All Clubs Luncheon goes all out to celebrate 30 years of women in Rotary

District 5420 (Utah) celebrated 30 years of women in Rotary on Saturday, October 7, 2017 with a well- attended and inspiring All Clubs Luncheon at the Noah Event Venue in Lehi.

Rotary International Past Vice President Jennifer Jones was the key note speaker, telling stories of her first days as a woman in Rotary and celebrating the service and connectivity of Rotarians worldwide. She also moderated a panel of Utah Rotarians – Stephanie Velasco, Penny Atkinson, DG Beverly Christy, Canice Harte, and Jana Hart – who discussed ways to engage and grow membership.

The District’s newest Paul Harris Fellows were recognized, District Youth Chair Miriam Barth spoke briefly of the importance of mentoring youth through Rotary, and 23 female Rotarians in our District were recognized by their clubs (click here for brief bios) and awarded beautiful wooden plaques handmade by Richfield Rotarian Brent Thorne.

Much thanks to the All Clubs Luncheon committee: Linda Baker (St. George Club), Jayne Barnett (Millcreek Club), Randi Jackson and Pearl Wright (Salt Lake Club), Therese Milad (Sugar House Club), and Christina Miller (Park City Club). Special thanks to Paula Bell (Dixie Sunrise Club) and Laurie Summers-Pisani (Millcreek Club).

Thanks also to the event sponsors: Rocky Mountain Power, America First Credit Union, Jayne Barnett of The Group Real Estate, and Planning Pathways. 

District Governor Bev Christy introduces Past RI VP Jennifer Jones

Past RI VP Jennifer Jones addresses Utah Rotarians

Panel discussion with Utah Rotarians

Attendance was great!

Some of the female Rotarians recognized by their clubs

More photos!

23 Utah women recognized by their clubs as part of our celebration of 30 years of women in Rotary

All Clubs Luncheon on Saturday October 7 featured the first woman to be Vice President of Rotary International, Jennifer Jones. Her visit with our District was inspirational. These 25 women inspire their Utah Rotary Clubs every day of every year. Please read their brief bios. Here are Rotarians who are role models for all of us, examples of  'Service above Self' who lift spirits and increase our impact locally and internationally.

Brigham City Club: Tere Moore

Tere has gone to Peru with a wheelchair project, she has gone to India to help with vaccinations, and she has gone to Ecuador with a water project. And last year as the club President, she spearheaded and has been the driving force behind Brigham City getting a Splash Pad, which should be finished next spring.

Cedar City Club: Sue Longson

Sue has made a huge difference in the Cedar City Club and the community. Very few – if any – give more service hours than she does. Sue is very active in the club and creates & sends out the weekly newsletter. She has served tirelessly on July Jamboree, the main fundraiser in the community. Rotary and its values are a priority in her life. She has helped with the club's Kenya project.

E-Club: Natalie Argyle

Natalie has put a lot of time and energy into building up young people in Utah. She chairs the committee that organizes RYLA, an experience that helps youth build leadership and a desire to serve others. She gives a lot of herself to help RYLA attendees have great experiences that expand their vision of life.

Heber Valley Club: Laura Camper

Laura has been a member of The Heber Valley Rotary Club since 1998. She served as President from 2012-2013. During that time she visited Cuba on a humanitarian project and found it to be a very humbling and life changing event.

During her 40 year employment for The Leavitt Group, she has served as Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and twice as Head Chair for the Wasatch School District Foundation. She has also served on the IHC hospital board for Heber Valley for 9 years

Hispano-Latino South Club: BiBi Escoto

Bibi has helped in the Diaper Mile Project for a senior citizens home in Irapuato, Mexico so these elderly folks can have diapers the whole year. She took her personal truck filled with furniture, clothing, and toys to the farm workers and their families in Santaquin and Geneva in southern Utah. Bibi has served on the Board of Directors of Poder Para La Familia Hispana for the past 6 years providing counseling to families with kids involved with gangs or the juvenile justice system. She is the President of La Linea Legal Para Los Hispanos, helping to bring awareness to the general Hispanic/Latino public about our state's laws and procedures through radio and television. She volunteers with The Salvation Army and helps hundreds of needy families through the Sub 4 Santa project during Christmas.

Holladay Rotary Club: Sue Vanderhoof

Sue has been Club President, International Service Chair, Foundation Chair, President-Elect-again. On the District level she has been Assistant District Governor, District Grants Chair and Global Grants Chair. These positions helped her gain a greater understanding of service through Rotary and to make friends with Rotarians throughout our District and in the World.

The thought of getting on a plane and traveling to a third world country never crossed her mind until she became a Rotarian. A trip to Ngala School for the Deaf in Nakuru, Kenya was supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience for but ten trips, and 15 years later it has become a way of life for Sue. She is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Paul Harris Society Member and a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation.

Kaysville Club: Deb Hefner

Deb is the longest-serving female Rotarian in the club. She has been a member of Kaysville Rotary for over 6 years and Treasurer for the past 3 years. Deb participated in the annual fundraiser, the Fourth of July 5K with getting sponsors, race registration, and helping the day of the race. She helped the Dictionary Project with delivering to schools and making presentations to 3rd-grade classes. She has helped with Days for Girls annual sewing day. Deb helps arrange for speakers for club meetings.

Lehi Club: Jackie Meigs

Jackie has been active for many years in volunteering for the community, her church, women's organizations, and organizations her children are involved in. Jackie is married to Glen Meigs and the mother of 5 children, including 4 Eagle Scouts. She is a partner in Vanguard Marketing, Inc. a successful marketing and financial consulting company.  


She is active in Rotary, working to unite the club and making connections with the community.  She will service as the Lehi Rotary Club President during the 2018-2019 year.

Logan Club: Candace Berthrong

Candace is the Past President of the Logan club and remains active on the board. She joined Rotary Club of Logan Utah in 2010. She served as Club Secretary from 2011-2013. She was awarded the Club Rotarian of the Year in 2013. She compiles information and photos for the Clubs Newsletter and Facebook page. Candace serves on the World Service Committee. She worked on the Mexican Agua Pierta Project for several years.

Midvale Club: Linda Brooks

Linda joined Rotary in 2000 and has been the President of the Midvale Club twice. She attended RYLA as a facilitator twice, including the first year the district started it. She is the mother of the youngest ever Rotary Club President in the district. Two of her daughters have been in Rotary. Linda has been on an international service project to Piedras Negras, Mexico. Linda worked with the Cedar City Club to start the first Rotaract Club at SUU.

Millcreek Club: Shannon Tilly

Shannon is a second generation Rotarian. She was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student to Spain and has hosted an Exchange Student for the Millcreek Club. Shannon is a Paul Harris Fellow. She chaired the club's Membership Committee during a period of growth. Shannon attended International Rotary Conventions in Lisbon and Atlanta. She is an OB-Gyn for high risk pregnancies.

Mount Timpanogos Club: Rebekah Snow Stanley

Rebekah Snow Stanley (a member in the under 40 category), serves as the Mount Timpanogos Rotary Club Administrator. Rebekah arranges and coordinates world-class speakers each week and sets up materials for club meetings. She manages the club Dictionary Project each year, scheduling the sponsors and donors for nearly 3,000 dictionaries to students at approximately 30 local elementary schools.

Orem Club: Deanna Rowen

Deanna was inducted a Rotary member on July 20, 2011. She was the Orem Club's first woman President. She has a passion for helping children and women in need.

Deanna spearheaded the clubs involvement with Interact's Puerto Penasco project and led a small Orem Rotary group to work on building a new home and playground.

Park City Club: Cathy King

Cathy works with non-profit organizations - 19 dedicated to animal welfare. She is the Executive Director of Canines with a Cause, a Utah based non-profit that trains service dogs to help military veterans suffering from PTSD.

She is a current club board member and the New Generations Chair. She is the Park City High School Interact Club Advisor. She is the lead organizer for the International projects and has organized the club’s service trip to the Hopi reservation this year. She is on the organizing committee for the annual auction which funds international projects – The Giving Tree Festival.

Richfield Club: Jackie Andersen

Jackie grew up in Richfield and is a true entrepreneur. She started "Crazy Lady Auto" which has been recognized as Utah's Used Automobile Dealership of the Year - twice. Jackie also started the very successful travel agency, Premier Tours. Her guided tours include LDS history sites, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, and others tours.

Jackie has been President of the Richfield Club twice, has unbounded energy and enthusiasm. Jackie's favorite service project each year is to cook and serve breakfast each Memorial Day at the Richfield Cemetery. Proceeds from the breakfast are used to purchase military flags for the Veterans Memorial and American Flags for Main Street.

Roosevelt Club: Polly Karren

Polly is the club’s immediate Past President and has been very active in club fund raising for many years. She says, "I love Rotary because it is a way my husband and I can serve our community together."  Because of her efforts, the local high school has adopted the 4-way test as their motto for the year. Polly is excited about the additional women that have joined the club in the past 2 years as they add a whole new dimension of service to the club. With her help, our club has created a way to help every charity in our community.

Red Rock Club: Pam Graf

Pam recently retired as the Foundation Director for Washington County School District where she worked for 20 years. She was also a member of the St. George Chamber of Commerce board of directors and later Chairman of that Board. She joined Rotary in 2009 and has loved the service opportunities it has offered. She has served as a board member for Leadership Dixie as well as the advisory board for State Bank of Southern Utah and Zions Way Hospice. She has been active in the Santa Clara Historical Society and was one of the original 5 who started Swiss Days in Santa Clara.

Pam is co-owner of The Orange Peel, a home grown smoothie and bubble tea shop that currently has 4 stores throughout the state.

Salt Lake Club: Safia Keller

Safia has been a member of Rotary for 8 years and held many leadership positions. She has been in charge of the club's Red Butte Concert fundraiser for 4 years. The concert has raised thousands of dollars for Polio Plus and the Salt Lake Rotary Foundation. She is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Richard L. Evans Fellow. She has co-chaired the Scholarship Committee for 5 years, served as a Vice President of the Salt Lake Rotary Board, served on the Parks and Environment Committee for 8 years and was the Chair of this committee for 3 years, and now serves as a Trustee of the Salt Lake Rotary Foundation.

Safia has a son with autism and works at the Columbus Community Center to assist individuals with autism, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities find and maintain meaningful employment. 

South Valley Club: Lori Bird

Lori is a Paul Harris Fellow, and a 3-term President of the South Valley Rotary Club. In addition to her community service through Rotary, Lori has served for several years as Chair of Draper Days, Draper’s annual festival featuring a large parade, 2 days of fun and concerts in the park, and a rodeo. She loves serving others and brings many opportunities for such service to the South Valley Club.

Lori goes out of her way to make you feel loved and she encourages all of us to live the mantra of 'service above self'

Spanish Fork Club: Julianne Roberts

Julianne Roberts is a valued member of the Spanish Fork Club, serving on the Board. She is quick to help with anything that is needed and is the Chairperson of the Dictionary Project each year. 





Sugar House Club: Margie Walz

Margie is currently the club's President Elect. Margie published the weekly Club Bulletin all last Rotary year. Margie organized the club's Membership Committee.She volunteered to Chair this year's Adoption Awareness Event, pulled everything together in conjunction with the Division of Child and Family Services, the Adoption Exchange, and club members. She volunteered to Chair next year's Adoption Awareness Event.




Tooele Valley Club: Lorina Bishop

Lorina wanted to reward Rotarians so she bought and cooked ribeye steaks and the club had a social called Ribeyes for Rotarians. She is one of the first people to volunteer for projects and assignments.

She lives in SLC but drives to Tooele and stays late, when needed, for projects. She is the President-Elect and Secretary this year.

Vernal Club: Donna Trotter

Donna joined the Williston, ND Rotary in 1983 as the first female member. She has been President, Treasurer, and Secretary of her club for 9 years. Donna served on the Library Board and Literacy Commission for Uintah County.