4th Annual Dixie Sunrise Rotary Foundation Evening of Elegance - Please attend!

 When: April 7th, 2017, 5:30 PM

Where: SunRiver Community Center, 4275 Country Club Dr, St George

How much: $50/person, $350.00 for a full Table of 8.

The Dixie Sunrise Rotary Foundation is hosting the 4^th annual Evening of Elegance fundraiser. The Washington County Search and Rescue is the primary beneficiary of the event.  The Arts Council of Washington County, Memory Matters and a new charity in the community, Neighborhood Connections are also partners in this event and will receive a portion of the proceeds. The evening will include fine dining and a silent and live auction featuring a variety of items including an African Safari for 2, a gourmet Italian dinner for six and other great items.

The Evening of Elegance will be held at the SunRiver Community Center, 4275 Country Club Dr., St George April 7th, beginning at 5:30 PM.   Tickets are $50 per person or you can purchase a table for 8 for $350.00. Formal wear is encouraged for the evening

Tickets can be purchased online at dixiesunriserotary.com or by calling 425-417-0625.

Dixie Sunrise Rotary is a member club of Rotary International, a worldwide service organization with 1.1 million members.  Our club was founded in 1996 and has been active in the St. George Community ever since.  Today we are 40 professional men and women who meet weekly in fellowship and perform local service projects at least once a month.  On any given weekend, you can find Dixie Rotarians working on projects such as road clean up, restoring Snow Canyon State Park or cooking dinner for Switchpoint clients. We also have sponsored important international service projects in Mexico, Costa Rica, Africa and Grenada.

Currently the Evening of Elegance is our major fundraising event for the year.  Over our 20 years of service we have raised over $200,000.00 which has supported the St. George Police, Dixie Regional Medical Center, the Washington County Search and Rescue and a variety of other local charities.  We know that many lives have been saved and improved because of our efforts to support the St. George Community.

In 2016, we formed The Dixie Sunrise Rotary Foundation, a 501-c-3 organization that allows us to expand our fund-raising efforts and service.  “The Rotary Foundation the mission is ‘To advance world understanding, good will, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty’.  This mission inspires us to serve the most vulnerable populations in our community and abroad,” said Janet Haines, 2018 Foundation President.  “We are proud to once again sponsor the Evening of Elegance,” she adds.

2018 Membership Report - State of our District

During the first half of the Rotary year, District 5420 was showing positive growth being up 16 members through November.  Those numbers soon dropped as the Clubs cleaned up their membership rosters and dropped those members that have stopped participating in Rotary.  This semi-annual cleanout, each December and June, results in large drops in membership (we are minus 18 in the District as of January 10^th, 2018).

So, what can we do minimize the semi-annual drops in membership?  The key to growing your Rotary Club is adding new members but more importantly keeping the members you already have. As our Zone website indicates:

“Rotarians actually do a great job of recruiting new members each year. The challenge clubs have is retaining members. Statistical data indicates that approximately 50% of new members leave Rotary within the first 12 months of their membership in the service organization. This is an indictment on the way in which we recruit and teach our new members about one of the most significant service organizations in the world.”

The Retention problem (really the lack of Member Satisfaction) is about how we manage member expectations and experiences.  The Rotary “We Care” program (A Guide for Building Strong, Effective and Fun Rotary Clubs for the New Millennium) states the following:

“One of our greatest challenges in Rotary is to better understand what type of expectations new members of Rotary have.  We need to take time and analyze what attracts new members and what will keep them in Rotary.  One of the foremost needs of new members is a strong desire to feel that they are spending their time wisely.  If they feel someone is wasting their time they have a tendency to avoid or eliminate whatever they feel is causing it.  New members need to be able to see immediate productivity.  They challenge us on a daily basis to teach them about Rotary at a quicker pace.  We must prove to them that Rotary is an organization that they should be part of.  Too many times we do not take the proper amount of time to reach out and help new members become part of Rotary.  New members must be educated quickly so they feel that they are part of the organization.  The question is, are our Rotary Clubs attractive, interesting, and do they give all individuals a feeling of accomplishment?  We all need to review our club’s attitude, environment, posture and direction. This will help to ensure that we meet the need of the new Rotarian of the 21^st century.  During this process we must never lose focus of our duty and goals of being Rotarians. Most importantly, we must never compromise our beliefs.  Instead, we must modify our goals and expectations to be realistic and give our members the ability to reach the goals.  Our members must have the opportunity to feel they have accomplished something special and important.  Consistent direction and understanding are the keys to a successful club!”

Please take steps to ensure that your existing members are having their expectations met and that they are having a positive Rotary experience.  Consider how you conduct New Member Orientation, look at updating your Club Membership Plan, or conducting a Rotary Club Health Check.  Additional membership resources can be found at the following web sites:

https://my.rotary.org/en/learning-reference/learn-topic/membership

https://www.rotary2127.com/tool-box/

New Consul General for Mexico in Utah receives widespread welcome from Rotary Clubs

Utah's new Consul General for Mexico José Borjón met with our District Governor Bev Christy to reach out to clubs in an effort to increase Hispanic membership in Rotary, connect the Consulate with local organizations, and to help Rotarians better understand and forward the cause of Hispanic issues in their community. 

The result is the following calendar dates. See if you can attend one of these multi-club hosted events. Other clubs are planning future events:

Wednesday, January 17 luncheon, Cottonwood Country Club. Hispano-Latino Club of Salt Lake (Glendale) & Hispano Latinos Club of Salt Lake - South, West Jordan Club, Salt Lake Club invite members and all Hispanic professionals outside of Rotary to join this event. 

Monday, February 5 at the Abbey Inn in St. George. St. George, Dixie Sunrise, Red Rock, Hurricane Valley, Zion Canyon & Kanab Rotary Clubs host an All Clubs Lunch with Consul Borjon.

Wednesday, February 7, 11am, venue TBA dependent on RSVPs. Richfield Rotary & Six County Association of Governments hosts Utah’s new Consulate from Mexico RSVP by January 23, Amy Rosquist arosquist@sixcounty.com 435-893-0720

Thursday, February 8, 6-8pm, Jim Santy Auditorium. Park City Rotary & Park City Sunrise club will jointly present a discussion with Consul Borjón, open to the public.

Cedar City, Ogden, Vernal Clubs, as well as Utah County clubs, Moab, Monticello, Bluff, Brigham City, Logan, and Davis County Clubs are in the planning stages.

190,000 Hispanics live in the Salt Lake Valley. That’s almost 18% of the population!  How many Hispanics are in your club?

Here is a biography of Consul General José Borjón: 

As of June 16, he is the Head Consul of Mexico in Salt Lake City, Utah and responsible for western Wyoming.

From August 2016 to June 2017, he was Deputy Director General of Ceremonial in the Protocol Direction General, where he contributed to the institutional events offered by the Presidency Republic to Foreign dignitaries during State, Government, Working and Multilateral meetings in Mexico, among other responsibilities.

From July 2014 to August 2016, he was Deputy Director General for the Southern Border in the Direction General of Latin America and the Caribbean, where he was responsible for the follow-up of the bilateral political and migratory agenda with Guatemala and Belize. Previously, (August 2013 to July 2014), he worked as an Advisor for the Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean specializing in Central American issues.

He served in the Mexican Embassy in the United States (September 2008-August 2013) and was in charge of the Office of Hispanic Affairs, liaising with Latino national organizations and developing projects to support the integration of Mexican communities.

He has been Consul for Community Affairs in the General Consulate of Mexico in Houston (2004-2008), and attaché for Culture and Scientific Cooperation at the Embassy of Mexico in Korea (1999-2004).

He holds a degree in International Relations from UNAM; a Master's Degree in Diplomatic Studies from the Diplomatic Academy of Mexico and an M.A. in European Studies from the Ortega y Gasset Institute in Spain. He has attended various graduate courses in public administration, strategic scenarios; Border administration at COLEF; ITAM and UDLA-Puebla. His most recent publication is "Opportunities for Linking with Mexican Youth in the United States", in the Mexican Journal of Foreign Policy, May-August 2016, Matías Romero Institute-Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Rotary International Council on Resolution Results

17R-01

To request the RI Board to consider recommending that each club have a strategic planning committee

AdoptedYes: 295No: 195

17R-02

To request the RI Board to consider recommending that all club meetings begin with The Four-Way Test

RejectedYes: 167No: 320

17R-03

To request the RI Board to consider requiring a minimum of 20 members in each club

RejectedYes: 103No: 388

17R-04

To request the RI Board to consider retaining original membership information for returning members

AdoptedYes: 331No: 152

17R-05

To request the RI Board to consider that terminated clubs secure endorsement from the district

AdoptedYes: 317No: 166

17R-06

To request the RI Board to consider researching the impact of club flexibility AdoptedYes: 341No: 146

17R-07

To request the RI Board to consider releasing information on the pilot programs AdoptedYes: 396No: 93

17R-08

To request the RI Board to consider proposing legislation to a future Council to create regional Rotary club constitutions

RejectedYes: 94No: 388

17R-09

To request the RI Board to consider establishing a regional decision-making body in Japan

RejectedYes: 64No: 411

17R-10

To request the RI Board to consider reaffirming the Object of Rotary AdoptedYes: 280No: 204

17R-11

To request the RI Board to consider adding a fifth part to The Four-Way Test RejectedYes: 70No: 415

17R-12

To request the RI Board to consider proposing legislation to a future Council adding core values and mission of Rotary

AdoptedYes: 250No: 235

17R-13

To request the RI Board to consider emphasizing the sequence of the five core values

RejectedYes: 224No: 264

17R-14

To request the RI Board to consider clarifying the relationships between Rotary’s guiding principles

RejectedYes: 223No: 263

17R-15

To request the RI Board to consider defining “service” RejectedYes: 208No: 275

17R-16

To request the RI Board to consider supporting ecologically-sustainable initiatives

AdoptedYes: 279No: 208

17R-17

To request the Trustees to consider adding sustainable development and environmental protection as an area of focusView detailed resolution (PDF)

AdoptedYes: 247No: 235

17R-18

To request the RI Board to consider recognizing EarlyAct clubs

RejectedYes: 221No: 262

17R-19

To request the RI Board to consider officially recognizing Rotary Kids RejectedYes: 200No: 281

17R-20

To request the RI Board to consider raising the Rotaract age limit to 35 RejectedYes: 209No: 275

17R-21

To request the RI Board to consider revising the Rotaract club certification form AdoptedYes: 281No: 194

17R-22

To request the RI Board to consider designating a Magazine Month RejectedYes: 163No: 319

17R-23

To request the Trustees to consider including a water project application template in the global grant application

AdoptedYes: 308No: 182

17R-24

To request the Trustees to consider allowing arts and culture global grants RejectedYes: 172No: 312

17R-25

To request the Trustees to consider securing a status report before sending club donationsV

RejectedYes: 226No: 258

17R-26

To request the RI Board to consider restoring the Manual of Procedure white pages

RejectedYes: 234No: 249

17R-27

To request the RI Board to consider amending the Recommended Club Bylaws to eliminate club fees

RejectedYes: 93No: 392

17R-28

To request the RI Board to consider publishing a record of the deliberations of the CouncilV

RejectedYes: 230No: 258

17R-29

To request the RI Board to consider disclosing its deliberative process on enactments that are referred to the RI Board

AdoptedYes: 284No: 196

17R-30

To request the RI Board to consider sending the five-year financial forecast prior to the Council

AdoptedYes: 425No: 58

17R-31

To request the RI Board to consider not increasing Rotary’s per capita dues at the 2019 Council

AdoptedYes: 300No: 189

17R-32

To request the RI Board to consider proposing legislation to a future Council to provide for variable dues by country

RejectedYes: 143No: 343

17R-33

To request the RI Board to consider basing future budgets on a scenario of reducing RI dues to US$50

RejectedYes: 135No: 349

17R-34

To request the RI Board to consider proposing legislation to a future Council to decrease RI per capita dues for RotaractorsView detailed resolution (PDF)

RejectedYes: 235No: 251

17R-35

To request the RI Board to consider proposing legislation to a future Council to revise the governance structure

RejectedYes: 232No: 241

17R-36

To request the RI Board to consider adding editorial marks to updated versions of the Rotary Code of Policies 

AdoptedYes: 309No: 179

17R-37

To request the RI Board to consider publishing the annual presidential theme in Hindi

AdoptedYes: 305No: 175

17R-38

To request the RI Board to consider training Council representatives on how to use voting equipmentV

AdoptedYes: 340No: 144

Interactors & Rotarians visit the Hopi Reservation for service to the community

A team of 17 Interactors & 8 Rotarians from multiple clubs around Utah had an absolutely amazing time on the Hopi Reservation this October teaching 15 Junior Achievement lessons to Hopi children, repairing 2 roofs and a wheelchair ramp. 

The Hopi people have invited Rotarians back so we hope for a possible spring trip. Special thanks to the Park City Rotary Club for planning. Enjoy the photos, but please don’t share them on social media out of respect for the Hopi custom.

PDG Shaun Michel was key in organizing the service trip.

Utah Rotary has a Peace Fellow!

A young woman from District 5420 (Utah) has been awarded one of 50 worldwide Rotary International Peace Fellow sponsorships for a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict resolution at International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan. The award, including tuition, room & board, and language instruction is worth over US$90,000.

“Elizabeth Gamarra is one of those rare individuals whose inner light and compassion guide her to create powerful and significant ways to serve,” says Salt Lake Rotarian Mike Deputy, District Peace Committee Chair in the endorsement letter.  “Her intuitive need to do good was established early and is clearly her lifelong path. The faster she receives training at a high level, the more quickly she will rise to doing truly great things in this world.”

Elizabeth has already done some great things with her life.

Born in Lima, Perú and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, she receive a Bachelor of Social Work and then a Masters from the University's College of Social Work with an emphasis in Global Women’s Health. Her accomplishments are broad for someone so young:

·        Elizabeth founded the non-profit, “Generations of Latinos,” the Academic Journal for Mentorship Across Cultures and Disciplines and the MentorMe® Project - platforms to help thousands of students seize best education, career and activism related opportunities. Now, with an online network of 1,000 tutors and mentors, students have won more than $1 M USD in financial aid and scholarships. 

·         Her work as Utah’s Student Activist Coordinator for Amnesty International USA, researcher at the Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Integration (CRMRI), and founder of the non-profit Generations of Latinos in Higher Education, have provided her a broad and comprehensive understanding of the challenges rooted in integration, conflict, economic inequality, and education; particularly in communities of color.

·         Elizabeth is a former TEDxSaltLakeCity speaker: A Uniting Journey of Perspectives: Human Mobility,” and most recently spoke at the University of Oxford Consortium for Human Rights on climate justice and eradicating poverty.

·         Her contributions have been recognized through Diversity and Equity University of Utah Award, the Outstanding Researcher Award in 2015 and 2016, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Graduate Award, the Utah Young Philanthropy Award, and most recently the 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award through the Utah Human Rights Commission.  

·         Elizabeth is currently on a Fulbright Grant  to teach and do research at the Instituto de Empresa (IE) University of Madrid and Segovia in Spain.

After graduate school, she looks forward to continuing the advancement of human rights and wishes to work on the design of new and viable policies that can lead developing countries, such as her own, down a path of equal opportunity, growth, and justice. She hopes to pursue a Juris Doctorate and a Latin Legum Magister (LLM) in Human Rights, focused on capacity building for refugees and peace

building efforts within host and neighboring countries.

Elizabeth writes in her application, “My culturally diverse background has filled me with pride to never forget where I come from and reach back to help those around me through the doors of opportunity.”

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!