Sappington Reports on Zone Institute

TODAY IN ROTARY Linda Sappington reported on only a small amount of information received at the October 27-30 Rotary 21b-27 Zone Institute in Salt Lake City.  According to Greg Podd, RI VP, “retention is Rotary’s #1 issue. “  District PI Director Linda also noted, “RI has a strong emphasis on public awareness because, even after 111 years, people on the street are still asking, ‘what’s Rotary?”

At the conclusion of her presentation, Linda distributed 3 questions and asked her fellow Rotarians to discuss “what should we as a club stop doing?  What should we as a club start doing? and What should we as a club continue to do … just do it better?”   The answers – some predictable and some surprising – will be discussed futher both by the board and by club members in our efforts to keep SGR relevant in the community.

Phil Hall Tells of Uganda Adventures

TODAY IN ROTARY, Phil Hall, DDS shared his recent adventure in Gulu, Uganda, a small land-locked – and overcrowded - country in Africa where “there is no work, no food and no money.”  Uganda, which claims the “source of the Nile,” has an average life expectancy of 57 years and people earn an average of $1.25 per day.  Phil described his time in Gula, with Dr. Drew Cahoon, a Rotarian and dentist from Canada, “It is in this area where SGR and several local dentists helped fund a dental clinic in the regional hospital.  When we where with the school kids it was what we called outreach to an elementary school.  We screened all the 5th and 6th graders for decay.  We then selected about 15 patients from the group and did fillings on the spot.  I was demonstrating the ART (atraumatic restorative technique) for filling teeth with out dental drills, only hand instruments and no anesthetic.  It was part of a dental education program to teach dental health and encourage the children to consider saving their teeth instead of just pulling them, including a program to show them not all dentistry is painful.

SGR Learns of RVU-SU

TODAY IN ROTARY Whitney Johnson, SGR’s newest member, shared brief details of her life growing up in St. George and her job as Admissions Counselor at Rocky Vista University.  According to Whitney, the Colorado-based Rocky Vista University (RVU) will open in the summer of 2017 to become Utah’s second medical school, with 125 students in its first class.  Quoting Thomas N. Told, DO, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM), “Southern Utah is the logical choice for a new medical school.  Nearly 400 students leave Utah every year to attend medical school. Students have a tendency to stay and establish their medical practice in the state where they receive their training.”

Rocky Vista University is dedicated to achieving new heights in medical education.  It will be a privilege and opportunity to partner with the academic community and many healthcare facilities located in Southern Utah and to create a pathway for the next generation of physicians who matriculate from Utah universities, train at RVUCOM-SU, seek residencies, then continue to practice in Utah.  RVU has always focused on the Mountain West states as this region is historically underserved and in need of talented physicians who will provide quality primary care. With RVU’s innovative curriculum and strong values, RVU can fulfill this need with graduates who will enhance the health of the communities they touch.

SGR Hears from Commission Candidates

TODAY IN ROTARY SGR welcomed Whitney Johnson, the Admissions Counselor at Rocky Vista University in Ivins and sponsored by Linda Sappington, as our newest Rotarian.

Also TODAY IN ROTARY, we found ourselves without a program … so, in true “service above self” Rotary spirit, our own Dean Cox, a candidate for Washington County Commissioner accepted an invitation to speak, followed by Josh Warburton, a charter member of the Zion Canyon Rotary Club and another candidate for a seat on the Washington County Commission.  These two fine individuals gave us lots to consider before casting our ballots.  Thanks for stepping up, guys!