Meet Alan Paige

Alan Paige saw a lot of the world before settling on St. George as a place to retire with his wife Sandy.  USAF Col. (Ret.)  Paige ended a 29-year military career in 1998 then taught mathematics at an alternative high school in Peoria IL.  In 2000 he was hired as an exercise planner at Ramstein Air Base in Germany helping to plan military exercises between USAF and NATO personnel in Europe. In 2007 he and Sandra moved to Yorktown VA working for the USAF at Langley AFB before moving back to Ramstein AB for 4 more years prior to retiring again in February, 2013. His military service included tours of duty at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico; George AFB in Victorville, California; Kunsan AB in Korea;  Spandgalhem AB, Germany; Takli AB, Thailand; and ANG assignments in Springfield and Peoria IL.

It was in Peoria, Illinois, where Alan was first introduced to Rotary.  The graduate of Hastings College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in math and physics was a member of the Peoria Rotary Club from 1994 to 2000.  After moving to Yorktown, VA and now fully immersed in the concept of “service above self” he couldn’t find a Rotary club to fit his schedule so joined Kiwanis where he served for two years. 

Alan and Sandy’s three children are scattered around the globe.  Their daughter – a CPA – lives in Chicago.  The couple’s two sons are a Marine stationed near Charleston, South Carolina and an engineer living and working in London.

When it came time to retire, Alan and Sandy whittled their choices down to three locations:  Tennessee, Nebraska or St. George.  The couple is still getting settled while Alan is also playing lots of golf and looking for an opportunity to teach or tutor where he can put his mathematical expertise to good use.

SGR Summer Party

On Saturday, August 3, Rotarians and their families – numbering approximately 40 men, women and children - drove 200+ miles round trip to Jack and Louise Petersen’s summer cabin for SGR’s annual summer party.  The event was an opportunity to socialize, recreate and escape the summer heat.  On top of Cedar Mountain at Swain’s Creek, Rotarians enjoyed a spectacular view, comfortable temperatures, good company, ATV rides, horseshoes, volleyball and badminton, dancing to the music of a live country-western band, a fabulous meal cooked by Immediate Past President Phil Hall and his wife Renée, and the chance to hang out with friends. 

After dinner, but before the sun went down, about a dozen adventurous 4-wheelers headed out for an hour long evening ride along Muddy Creek for the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Baker Named Rotarian of the Year

Linda Baker, vice president of the southern region of Workers Compensation Fund, was named 2012-13 "Rotarian of the Year” from among the 60-members of St. George Rotary Club.  An employee of WCF for 38 years and a longtime member of Rotary, Baker was chosen for this honor, in part for her efforts as SGR’s foundation chairperson and for chairing a successful Christmas holiday fundraiser.  President of St. George Rotary Club in 2011-12, Baker was also honored for her tireless support of Rotary International’s youth exchange program since joining the local service club in 1996.

This year, two of ten exchange students in the Utah Rotary District -one from Taiwan and one from Spain - lived and attended high school in the Washington County School District.  Baker made certain these students took part in mandatory youth exchange programs in locations around the state including Bear Lake, Tooele, Moab, Park City, SLC, Ogden (for district conference), St. George, and Lake Powell.

Congratulations on a well-deserved recognition for Linda Baker, Rotarian of the Year!

McArthur is New Rotary Prez

Durant McArthur, PhD, of St. George was recently installed as 2013-14 President of the 60-member Rotary Club of St. George, assuming duties and responsibilities from outgoing President Phillip Hall, DDS. 

Prior to passing the gavel, Hall noted how the informal leadership style of his board had resulted in several positive changes to the club’s structure and programming, including reorganization of board assignments, review and update of club bylaws, successful grant writing, stronger youth programs and additional boots on the ground for the Guatemala stove project and other  service in that country.

McArthur, who reminded club members he is “a better writer than I am a speaker,” is an emeritus natural resource scientist who returned to his hometown in 2008 after a successful career with the research branch of the USDA Forest Service, mostly at the Shrub Sciences Laboratory on the campus of Brigham Young University.  A past member of four Rotary clubs from a dedicated Rotary family, the new St. George president considered himself a “back bencher” in some of his previous service but promised to step up. 

McArthur pledged to follow in the distinguished footsteps of his father and two of his three brothers, all who previously served in the club’s top spot and other outstanding club presidents.  His late father Eldon also served as Utah Rotary District Governor in 1986-87.

The new president will be assisted in his duties by board members:  Secretary-Treasurer Richard Isom;  President-Elect Bette Arial who will manage  youth activities and functions; Linda Sappington who will be responsible for public relations; Janet O’Riley who will manage club administration;  Collin Davis who oversees  fund-raising;, Sheldon Banks who will oversee service activities.  Phil Hall will continue in a leadership role as chairman of the club’s foundation and immediate past president; and Nick Lang will be responsible for membership activities. 

4-Way Test Essay Contest Winners Announced

Winners of St. George Rotary Club’s 4-Way Test Essay Contest are, from left, Ammya Scott, Spencer Duell, Maggie Cook, Daryn Ham, Ali Stum, Lyndsi Graf.  In the back are Durant McArthur, contest chairman and Phil Hall, SGR President.

In the 9^th year of competition, 115 students participated  in SGR’s  4-Way Test Essay Contest.  To participate, students in intermediate schools throughout the Washington County School District were invited  by Chairman Durant McArthur and his committee, to compose their thoughts in writing about someone they know who best exemplifies Rotary’s 24-word test of ethics in all aspects of life:  is it the truth?  Is it fair to all concerned?  Will it build goodwill and better friendship?  Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Awarded a $50 first prize at Fossil Ridge Intermediate School is Ammya Scott, daughter of Travis and Kim Scott, who wrote about her grandmother.  A second place prize of $25 went to Spencer Duell, son of Larry and Julie Duell who shared respect and admiration for his own father.

At Lava Ridge Intermediate School, first place honors went to Maggie Cook, daughter of Alan and Karen Cook and Daryn Hamm, daughter of Gwen and Jeff Ham , was the second place recipient for her essay about her teenage sister Hannah who she noted “is a perfect example of Rotary’s 4-way test.”

Ali Stum, daughter of Justine and Kristen Stum, a student at Sunrise Ridge Intermediate School, was recognized for her well-written thoughts about a dance teacher who lives both the letter and the spirit of the 4-way test.  Also at Sunrise Ridge, Lyndsi Graf, daughter of Pam and Jeff Graf, noted her parents set the most ethical tone “in our home and in their lives.”

Language arts classes in the WCSD, with at least a 30% participation in the contest, were also awarded $200 to use in whatever way the teacher deems appropriate.  Recipients included Teresa Southwick from Sunrise Ridge Intermediate School, Rosemarie Swallow from Lava Ridge Intermediate School and Marvalee Lund from Fossil Ridge Intermediate School.

District Conference "The Best Ever!"

Representatives of SGR, along with members from 46 other Utah clubs, attended the amazing, inspirational, motivational Utah District Conference in Ogden on the weekend of May 3-5, 2013.  Considered “perhaps the best conference ever” by those in attendance – including Linda Baker, Jim Coleman, Gil Trujillo, Durant McArthur and Linda Sappington – the gathering included outstanding speakers and well-planned break-out sessions at the Eccles Conference Center and an impressive interfaith service at Peery’s Egyptian Theater, all under the direction of conference chairman Brent Parkin (Ogden Club) and District Governor Jerry Summerhays (Murray Rotary).

Those outstanding speakers included Past RI President Bill Boyd (Australia), RI President's Representative Jeffry Cadorette, Katie Ehlis (in the blogmaster's opinion "the BEST presenter of the BEST conference ever"), Jana Farr Scott and Brian Farr, father-daughter Peace Fellow Team and District Peace Chair with entertainment provided by David Osmond (2nd Generation) and the One Voice Childrens Choir! 

Also attending, at least a portion of the conference, were Dan Strobell, Nick Lang, Reed Noble and Lowry Snow.

Next year’s conference will be held May 15-17, 2014 in Logan.  Plan to enjoy this wonderful experience.

Update from Alex

Alexandria Meyer, SGR’s youth exchange student, spent her Thanksgiving in school – since this purely American holiday is not celebrated in Belgium.  She was supposed to be thinking about her school work, but instead was imagining all the good food being enjoyed by her family back home in St. George while trying to explain the holiday and its traditions to her friends in Belgium. 

December 1 brought snow – but as in St. George – the white stuff was pretty for about an hour, then turned into slush. 

Alex reports she attended the 18^th birthday celebration for one of her friends.  “The party was formal.  Picture a fancy wedding reception . . . and that was her birthday party.  I pretty much understood what was being said in English, but many of the guests were from other countries so the party was a mix of Dutch, French, English and some of the languages of the Philippines.” 

December 6 is St. Nicholas Day - a major holiday for children.  They receive gifts, candy and other stuff.  “It was also good because we got out of school at midday!”

Thanks again to SGR for this wonderful experience.  I will never forget you for making this possible!