Utah Rotary Clubs! $100 reward!

The American Fork Club is issuing a $100 reward for the Rotary club that brings the most team or individuals to our Tour de Donut bike race.  The event is July 7th at 9:00 am.  For more information visit:  www. utahtourdedonut.org or call Debby 801-319-8655.  We are also looking for volunteers to count donuts, man the race course, and help with registration.  Volunteers register at website.  

Interactors, Rotaractors, and Rotarians unite to 'MAKE A DIFFERENCE" in Puerto Penasco, Mexico

AT 3:30 AM June 9, 2012, the first group of Interactors were meeting in Brigham City to load up on the bus that would take them to Puerto Penasco, Mexico. They were the first of over 235 Interactors, Rotaractors, and Rotarians, amounting to 4 bus loads,  that would begin the journey to Mexico for a week long service project.  The week would culminate in the construction of 3 new homes for the impoverished residents of Puerto Penasco, and an incredible number of service projects in schools, orphanages, senior citizen centers, and others.  As can be imagined, 235 people in multicolored, shirts reflecting the team that they belonged to, attracted quite a bit of attention.  Among them was Joe Houchin, a reporter and writer.  He followed us around for a couple of day and wrote the following piece for the Sonoran Resorts, he also took the photos that are shown here.  Please go to this link and view the entire article, which goes into more details of the partnership with the Families helping Families foundation, that helps make this service project possible.

http://www.sonoranresorts.mx/?p=5132

Joe Houchin

The group, ranging in age from 13 to 20, arrived on Sunday the 10th of June and on Monday went to the site that consisted only of stacks of block, bags of concrete, tools and three concrete foundations. Ralph and Jared had previously contracted to have the supplies and foundations ready for the group so they could begin immediately on the miraculous job of completing three 1,000 square foot homes, including the roofs, window and interior framing by the following Thursday— that’s four days!.

These photos begin on Tuesday morning, the second day and already the block laying is nearly to the top. It was an amazing sight: the teams distinguished by brightly colored T-shirts of yellow, red, blue and green sprouting like desert flora from every angle of the block structures inside and out, all diligently devoted to their assigned jobs and working non-stop throughout the long hot day, proving their commitment to the Rotary slogan, “Service Above Self”. The slogan they wore proudly on Friday morning, group photo day. The American and Mexican Flags flew proudly each day in front of the project.

MURRAY ROTARY HONORS MURRAY HIGH SCHOOL OUTSTANDING ALUMNI AWARD

Last week, Murray Rotary honored this year's recipient, Rhett McQuiston, as the Murray High School Outstanding Alumnus Award at a luncheon.  Murray Rotarian Harold Brockbank, started  the program with a brief overview of Rotary International.

Murray Rotarian Dr. Steve Hirase, Superintendent of Murray School District, gave a few remarks.

He stated that the wall of pictures of past alumni winners at Murray High School is now more significant than ever, noting that it includes people like former Murray Mayor Lynn Pett.  Murray Rotary Club has been presenting this award since 1979.  He declared that this year’s winner of the Outstanding Alumnus Award, Rhett McQuiston embodies “service above self” to the children of the community.  He said  Rhett’s two children are students and his sister is a teacher in the District. 

Rhett's roots run deep in Murray: he, his mother and his grandmother all attended Murray High, as will his two children.  He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters of Arts in Organizational Management.  He has been a certified law enforcement officer since 1994, when he began his career aas an Adult Probation & Parole Officer.  He was promoted to Criminal Invertigator with the Utah Department of Corrections.  In 2000, Rhet was assigned to a newly created task force within the Utah Attorney General's Office: the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Rhett McQuiston

Rhett ultimately was the Task Force Commander. He has also been an investigator for the Utah Child Abduction Response Team since it began in 2007. In 2010, Rhett was assigned as the Supervisory Special Agent of the Utah Attorney General’s State Enforcement of Crimes Committed by Undocumented Residents (SECURE) Strike Force. He is currently a Supervisory Special Agent with the Cooperative Disability Investigation Unit, which is responsible for investigating Social Security fraud. 

Rhett expressed his appreciation for the honor, noting that he was proud just to be nominated and surprised and honored to be selected.  He pointed out that the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force started with four original members and by 2010, 80 officers were involved state-wide.  He stated child sex predators to be a huge problem and described the cases as being "tough".

Congratulations are extended to Rhett McQuiston and his entire family!

MURRAY ROTARY HONORS MURRAY HIGH SCHOOL'S TOP 10 SCHOLARS

Master of Ceremonies, Wynn Tate

In May, Murray Rotary Club honored Murray High School
Top Ten Scholars and an Outstanding Teacher Award.  Presiding as Master of Ceremonies, Murray Rotarian Wynn Tate gave a brief overview of Rotary in general and the Murray Rotary Club.  He spoke about Rotary's "Polio Plus" program to eradicate polio worldwide and the number of Rotary Clubs and members worldwide.

Wynn concluded his comments by encouraging Murray High School Top Ten Scholars to get involved in charity and service.  Wynn introduced Murray Rotarian Dr. Steve Hirase, Superintendent of the Murray School District, who in turn, introduced Dr. David Dunn, Principal of Murray High School.    Dr. Dunn declared, of the more than 500 top Murray students who have been honored by the Murray Rotary Club over the years, the ten best were here today, including five Murray High School Sterling Scholars!  He then introduced each of Murray High Schools Top Ten Scholars, with a brief biographical sketch for each student.

Devan Betts

Murray HS Top Ten Scholars, Chris Cowen

Dr. Hirase, Chris Cowen and Dr. Dunn

Marissa Burton

Jacqueline Rosen
Cody Golder
Makay Miller
Alex Wilkinson
Jenna Lewis
Alexander Souvall
Whitney Stephan
Elise Johnson


They are all brillant, hardworking, conscientious, caring and dedicated future leaders in their professions, homes and communities.

Dr. Dunn then presented the Outstanding Teacher Award to Chris Cowan, who was selected for the honor by the Top Ten Scholars.  Mr. Cowan teaches science at Murray High School and mentors other teachers.  He was described as having a "glass one half full" personality and always positive.