SGR Celebrates the End of Summer

SGR gathered for the annual End-of-Summer Family Social on Monday, September 26 at the home of Phil and Renae Hall (well, more of a compound according to one young attendee).  The weather was a perfect 78° … the water was cold (but refreshing according to swimmers) … there was volleyball, pickleball, soccer, croquet … sheep, chickens and a dog named Shilo … lots of socializing to get better acquainted and pizza cooked in Phil’s very own pizza oven.  In all, it was a very fun evening to celebrate surviving another Dixie summertime and another successful Rotary year!  Thanks to all who helped organize the evening and to all who turned out for the fun, food and friends.

Visioning in SGR

The discussion continues in the meeting after the meeting!

Visioning … a process resulting in the development of a plan, goal, or vision for the future.  TODAY IN ROTARY members of our dynamic SGR club, spent an hour working together to find a local service project which our club can “own,” benefits a group of citizens, and provides lots of opportunities for good public relations exposure.  Facilitated by PE Rulon Olsen, the list of possibilities included:

·               A project relating to suicide prevention

·               Adopt-a-trail and/or donate trees for the City of St. George

·               Something for Switchpoint

·               A project to support the Alzheimers and Dementia Society

·               Build administrative offices for Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah

Rulon suggested a radio-thon as a day long fundraiser.  President Collin Davis encouraged
members to consider these – and other project ideas – and email thoughts and/or concerns to
Rulon Olsen at rulon@ruloninc.com.  SGR will continue working to identify a local signature
project at our next meeting on October 3.

Operation Underground Railroad Educates SGR on Child Sexual Slavery

Celeste Maloy, SGR’s 71^st member was inducted TODAY IN ROTARY by President Collin Davis.  Sponsored by Terance White, Celeste comes to Rotary with a classification of Civil Attorney as a member of the staff of the Washington County Attorney’s Office.

Steve Woodfield, a representative of Operation Underground Railroad, spoke to the mission and purpose of the organization which has rescued more than 500 children from sexual slavery in the 3 years since it was organized in 2013.  Said Woodfield, “we've gathered the world's experts in extraction operations and in anti-child trafficking efforts to bring an end to child slavery.”

O.U.R.'s Underground Jump Team consists of former CIA, Navy SEALs, and Special Ops operatives that lead coordinated identification and extraction efforts. These operations are always in conjunction with law enforcement throughout the world.

Once victims are rescued, a comprehensive process involving justice for the perpetrators and recovery and rehabilitation for the survivors begins. 

According to Woodfield, “American tourists are the #1 consumers of these young sexual slaves, exploiting more than 2 million children annually.  But, we believe providence is in the work we are doing.  We’ve seen too many miracles to deny His hand in our ability to rescue children from this life.”

For more information, see www.ourrescue.org.