Team RWB Tells Their Story

The war on terrorism in the Middle East is supposedly winding down, although no one can realistically refer to this political nightmare as “a win.”  When everything is said and done – though it is unlikely it will ever be “said and done” – the number of men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001 is more than 2.5 million.  And, estimates are another 1.2 million will yet serve and be coming home over the next four years. 

Once back on American soil, things will not easily return to normal for our warriors. After the atrocities of war, many will be coping with a failure to adjust leading to divorce, unemployment - even homelessness.  More than 26 percent will have some form of post-traumatic  stress disorder (PTSD), including deep depression, anxiety and survivor remorse, which may manifest itself immediately or perhaps not for several years.  In any case, the man or woman who left for the battlefield is unlikely to be the same man or woman who comes home with battle scars, which may not be evident, even to those who are closest to them. 

The worst statistic relating to those returning from the Global War on Terrorism is the one which shows 22 a day are committing suicide in this country because they are not adjusting to post-military life and their problems are so overwhelming they simply can’t go on.  

Team Red, White and Blue, headed up in the local community by Garrett Johnson and Doug Cook, create communities of veterans, their families and concerned citizens to enjoy authentic interaction through physical and social activities for a balanced transition from military life.  

In St. George, Team RWB gathers each Tuesday evening for yoga; on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays for cross fit; weekly bike rides together on Fridays and a weekend run or walk on Saturdays.  There are also social events, hiking and "other" activities on the schedule. Upcoming includes the Kokopelli Run at Sand Hollow on September 12; the Santa Clara Swiss Days 5K on September 26; St. George Marathon on October 3 and the Snow Canyon Half Marathon on Veterans Day (November 7).

For more information, contact US Army (Retd.) Doug Cook at 773-0138 or online at dcookbroker@gmail.com.

Member Orientation Gets Hands Up

Nick Lang’s goal for the club’s first ever in-meeting Member Orientation program was “to get a lot of discussion.”  Using a fill-in-the-blanks quiz sheet relating to the organization, structure and history of Rotary, Nick accomplished his goal as hands went up here, there and everywhere in answer to his questions.

Nick also distributed downloaded historical materials from the RI website about the life and times of founder Paul Harris, then facilitated discussion among members – new and longstanding. “The most touching was when I asked some of the newer members why they joined Rotary, then just stood back and listened,” he reports of the experience. 

Nick also shared the story about his Rotary sponsor.  In 1975, Guido Ravello, a neighbor (and fellow church member) was a successful American businessman who came to the US as a Cuban refugee in the early-1960's.  Rotary allowed him give back to his new country the blessings of freedom.  His printing business also benefited from printing jobs referred by fellow Rotarians. 

Thanks to the new Membership committee for coming up with the idea to schedule Orientation meetings periodically during regular Monday meetings.

Installation of Officers

Top left:  Perfect Attendance awards - Jim Coleman, Ray Robinson, Richard Isom, Linda Sappington, Janet O'Riley, Durant McArthur, Ken Sizemore and Terance White.  Top Right:  Pdt. Janet with Rising Star Bryan Wheat; Bottom left:  Board members - Durant McArthur, Collin Davis, Stacy Britt, Pdt. Janet, Linda Sappington, Richard Isom and Terance White.  Bottom right:  Paul Harris Fellows - Lowry Snow, Carolyn Stuercke, Pdt. Janet, Terance White.

Janet O’Riley, SGR’s 84th president passed the gavel, but not before she presented 5 Paul Harris Fellow awards; recognized perfect attendance by 9 members of SGR, and expressed her affection and appreciation to all those who served with her in RY2014-15.

In her year as president, Janet reminded us we:

·               welcomed 136 visitors

·               consumed 1400 meals

·               visited 3 businesses (McArthur Welding, L'Chef and ...

·               enjoyed 3 parties  (fall family party, Christmas party ... 

·               donated $4040 to non-profit community organizations

·               delivered dictionaries, hung lights at Tuacahn, held our “first ever” night golf event, began         planning for a pickleball tournament, and partnered with 3 other clubs in Area 16 planning a car show fundraiser

·               said goodbye to two members:  Shar Heitkotter and Doug Quayle

·               attended the District Conference in Mexico … and,

·               sent “boots on the ground” to Guatemala

Paul Harris Fellows, for a donation of $1000 to The Rotary Foundation, were presented to:

-                Jack Petersen

-                Carl Rieck

-                Carolyn Stuercke

-                Terance White

-                and, a 4^th PHF to Lowry Snow

Perfect Attendance awards were presented to:

+          Ray Robinson (17 years)

+          Jim Coleman (15)

+          Nick Lang   (10)

+          Richard Isom   (8)

+          Janet O’Riley   (4)

+          Durant McArthur  (2)

+          Linda Sappington (2)

+          Ken Sizemore    (1)

+          Terance White (1)

Presidential citations were presented to:

·               Jack Petersen, for stepping up to co-chair the Rotary car show

·               Jim Coleman, for his leadership and continuing to help build our club

·               Ken Sizemore, for his willingness to co-chair the Rotary car show

·               Dan Strobell, for his continuing leadership of the Guatemala stove project

·               Phil Hall, for his “behind the scenes support” of all things Rotary

·               Linda Baker, for her leadership in youth programs

·               Gil Trujillo, for his leadership in organizing Mexico service projects

·               Ray Robinson, for his musical talent as a conductor

Two Rising Star awards went to:  Dennis Leavitt for his support of the orange fundraiser and Bryan Wheat for stepping up as club secretary.

Janet’s choice for Rotarian of the Year is Reed Noble for continuing to chair the dictionary project and for repeated trips to build stoves in Guatemala.

“And, finally, thanks to my amazing board who supported me all the way … and, thanks to our 72 members for their ‘service above self’ attitude,” said SGR’s outgoing president as she passed the gavel to Terance White.

Report on Guatemala

Rotarians and family members of SGR (Ken and Barbara Sizemore, Dan and Cindy Strobell, Scott and Janalee Strobell, Phil Hall, Reed Noble and Jess Noble, Lowry Snow and grandson Garrett Hinton, Cindy Loeber and her daughter Holly and granddaughter Dasia, traveled to Guatemala over Memorial Day weekend, and reported today on their successes working with ALDEA (Advancing Local Development thru Empowerment and Action), which means “village” in Spanish.  

Guatemala, about half the size of Utah with a population of more than 15 million residents, has the world’s highest infant mortality rate.  Currently 70 percent of Guatemalans live in poverty and 80 percent of Guatemalan children have stunted growth due to poor nutrition.  In Mayan villages, 858 stoves have been built through this partnership between ALDEA .  50 percent have been funded by SGR.  

“We could work for another 100 years and not be ‘done’,” said Dan Strobell, “but in the history of this project we have ...”

·         cut consumption of wood by 2/3

·         seen a 95% decrease in smoke inhalation

During this year’s trip to Guatemala, members of SGR:

-                distributed about 100 pair of shoes, as well as ribbons and bows

-                pulled between 400-500 teeth in 3 days

-                trained midwives on newborn resuscitation

-                distributed 800 pounds of beans and rice to 150 women who showed up in the town square

Ken Sizemore noted Rotarians also enjoyed some rest and relaxation on black sand beaches and visited a sea turtle reserve.

Rotarians will travel again to Guatemala next year on or around Memorial Day weekend.  For information, see Dan Strobell.

Service Above Self in Puerto Penasco, Mexico

TODAY IN ROTARY Gil Trujillo, Richard Isom, Linda Sappington, Ted Dodge and Collin Davis reported on their week in Puerto Penasco, Mexico where they provided "service above self" for 4 days prior to the District Conference.

During his year as District Governor, Mike Wells, a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Tooele regularly told the nearly 1800 members of 47 clubs in Rotary District 5420, "if it's not fun, you're doing it wrong!"  So, its no surprise, when this dentist-by-profession proposed his 2014-15 district conference be held - not in their home state of Utah - but up to 1000 miles south in Mexico, those who know what part fun plays in his life, simply said, "where do I sign up?"

This memorable District Conference was held June 12-13, 2015 in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, but the fun actually began 4 days before the conference when more than 750 Rotarians, family members and friends came together to complete about 50 humanitarian service projects in this little town, approximately 200 miles from Phoenix.  The conference and service activities took a year of planning and about $12,000 in Rotary grants and 3 times that much again in individual club contributions but in a week's time, District 5420 accomplished a Herculean amount of work including:

·                providing dental care (extractions and fillings) for 293 people

·                building 3 2-bedroom, 2-bath cinderblock houses (which will be completed by others for “gifting” around Christmas time)

·                furnishing and gifting 4 homes to qualified families in need of safe housing

·                cleaning the hard drives, downloading appropriate software and donating 65 iMac computers for use in the Escuela de Rotaria Elementary School and another 80 pc’s to Escuela Numero 27 (comparable to a U. S. middle school)

·                landscaping a new dialysis center

·                paying for and delivering an ambulance for the dialysis center (a cost of about $14,000)

·                paying for and delivering 4 school buses

·                creating a computer lab with tablets and a flat screen TV for training high school students on the use of technology

·                donating a year’s worth of internet service to these schools

·                donating “a truckload” of school supplies

·                delivering and distributing about 125 t-shirt dresses for little girls, shorts for little boys and a bunch of wooden toys from the Happy Factory in Cedar City

·                building a 12x20” addition on the Piñata House where young people with disabilities, from blindness to cerebral palsy make piñatas to sell to local souvenir shops to earn a small income

·                working with employees of the Pinata House, completed 200 pinatas which will fund the program for almost two years

·                created a library at a local elementary school

·                distributing 1500 pair of prescription glasses and sunglasses

·                painting the Escuela de Rotario school a beautiful pumpkin orange and installed fencing and donated playground equipment for the kids

·                refurbished 50 school desks

Of course, in this beautiful community located on the Sea of Cortez, it wasn’t all work!  After an average of 5 hours a day in the hot sun with humidity almost equal to the temperature, Rotarians, their family and friends enjoyed swimming, shopping the street markets, socializing, shrimp the size of your fist and a Fiesta with music, dance, food and fireworks, organized by the 1-year-old Mar de Cortez Rotary Club, based in Puerto Penasco.

No question, there were a few naysayers and certainly not every Rotarian in Utah attended, but those who did are changed forever.  None of those 750 attendees, despite their age and background, will ever say, "it can't be done" because DG Mike Wells proved a small contribution of time can make a huge difference in addressing overwhelming needs.  It can truly be said, District 5420 took up the RI challenge for 2014-15 to "Light Up Rotary" during one week in June and made the impossible happen.

Farewell to Dan and Bunny McArthur

In the overly crowded boardroom at the headquarters of McArthur Welding, Rotarians enjoyed a delicious Mexican lunch, a Readers Digest version of Horseplay and the chance to bid a fond farewell to Dan McArthur, who, with his wife Bunny will report on July 1 for three years of service as President of the Mexico Monterey West Mission of the LDS Church.  In this new assignment, he will oversee the missionary work of 220-240 young men and women - "mostly Hispanic kids," said Dan.

McArthur Welding, which was officially established by Eldon McArthur in 1942, has evolved into a successful family owned and operated business without any bank loans and with only word-of-mouth as their advertising plan.  According to Dan, Durant (“the scientist”) left the family business to pursue a career working with plants.  Dan , Sam, a couple of sons and a daughter-in-law are the workforce which keeps the business moving forward. 

“I always wanted to be a doctor,” said Dan, “but a chemistry class at BYU changed his plans.  I’ve never worked so hard for a D+.  After I graduated, Dad asked me to come back to St. George and run the business.  He said, ‘you won’t be wealthy, but you’ll have sufficient for your needs.’”

Sam will take over as the company’s CEO.

Members of SGR wish Dan and Sam well in their new assignments. 

Lane Ronnow Has a Story to Tell

Lane Ronnow, a fairly new member of SGR, a busy political activist, a 2012 candidate for Governor of Utah, and the host of Southern Utah Live's “A Story to Tell” states “Lou Gehrig was not the luckiest man in the world… and Jimmy Stewart knows nothing about ‘A Wonderful Life’, compared to the life I have lived.”

In his youth he learned a great life lesson while working at the Grand Canyon Lodge. “It’s not the job you have; it’s the way you do the job you have,” he told members of SGR.

Lane, who attended SUU, UCLA and the University of Utah, has had a rich career path including work as the Controller of the Housing Authority of Kern County; as the Business Administrator for the Morgan County School District; and as the Director of the Saint George Housing Authority.  He has also served as Salt Lake County’s Justice Court Judge, as the Director of the Salt Lake County Building and Zoning Enforcement Department; and as the Chief Deputy School Superintendent, Yuma County Schools. 

During his presentation to the club, Lane shared snippets from some of his recent interviews.  And, he continues to look for people with interesting stories to tell.