Home Page | Rotary Club of Rapid City Rushmore

Rushmore Rotary is a local club composed of inspired individuals who translate their passions into relevant social causes to change lives in our community. We were organized in March 1986 and currently have 78 members. Rushmore Rotary Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at 7am at Howard Johnsons Express, 950 North Street, Rapid City, SD. Virtual Zoom meeting logins are available. Contact our President for a zoom invite or to find out more information about Rotary International visit Home | Rotary International

January 31, 2023 Meeting

Our meeting today was at the Black Hills Stock Show where we listened to Justin Tupper, president of the US Cattlemen’s Assoc., and runs the St. Onge sale barn. The sale barn does over $140 million in sales each year. He also discussed current issues, like competition with large corporations, facing ranching and meat sales today. They are working to protect the ranching way of life, advocating for the industry and educating the next generation. Lots of great questions from the audience. Thanks Ron for inviting us.

Social at Zymurcracy 1/27

The February Social was at Zymurcracy Brewery. It was well attended despite the falling snow. The club coin check was called, but only 2 people remembered their coins- not sure who had to buy! Don't forget next time.

Sean Binder Receives Paul Harris Award

The highest award in Rotary is the Paul Harris Award. It is given to a
Rotarian or a member of the community that has made an outstanding
contribution to the community.

The Paul Harris recipient goes above and beyond in serving our community through promoting change and understanding. It has been awarded to Rotarians and others that have shown that they are prepared to go that extra mile in support of people in need.

The Rapid City Rushmore Rotary Club honored Sean Binder, Internship Coordinator with Rapid City High School, with
the distinguished Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Sean was instrumental in developing the City of Rapid City Youth Council, serves on the Lifeways board and is dedicated to youth development and work-based learning programs in the community and school.

Sean has nurtured the partnership with Rapid City High School and Rapid City Rushmore Rotary.

Congratulations Sean.

Romania Wheelchair Distribution

Romania Wheelchair Distribution

We have a modified wheelchair distribution trip scheduled for March 11 - 19, 2023. Attached is an itinerary. We will travel to Bucharest, interact for an evening with a local Bucharest Rotary Club, then go to Barlad. In Barlad, we will participate in a one-day wheelchair distribution, view the new Hope Haven International facility in Barlad and interact with local Rotarians in Barlad. Then we will travel to Brasov and Sinaia, tour Peles Palace, Dracula's Castle in Brasov and enjoy the mountains for a bit.

We will finish in Bucharest and then home. I estimate the costs for this trip to be around $2,000 per person. If you have questions, please email me at: msiemons@hopehaven.org. Or call me at 712.470.0298. I am looking for 2 - 4 people to fill our team. I would like to book air travel next week. Hope you can join us for this trip!

Mark Siemonsma

St. Thomas Moore Interact Blue Out

On Friday, January 13, the St. Thomas Moore Interact Club had a "blue out" fundraiser to raise money for Human Trafficking Awareness. They decorated the school with blue streamers and made posters about statistics on Human Trafficking. Students donated $5 in order to wear blue. They are donating all of the funds to the Cornerstone Women's and Children's Shelter on January 19 at 11:30. The Interact Club will be at Rushmore Rotary’s meeting this Tuesday. Donations are welcome!

Whiteclay Makerspace featured on Nebraska Public Media

We are happy to share this recent news story produced by Nebraska Public Broadcasting. The equipment you will see was purchased by our Global Grant. While equipment and supplies purchases have slowed, the artists are busy creating and marketing their products.

Holly Albers, marketing manager, is currently recruiting additional artists. They will have opportunities to attend quilting and sewing equipment training in Rapid City this winter. Also, skills classes on various craft/art subjects will be offered. Our grant will reimburse travel and class expenses.

Global Grant committee members are happy to respond to any questions regarding this project.

Ina Winter, Hot Springs Rotary, D5610 PDG 2019-20 kristine.ina.winter@gmail.com
Linda Peterson, Rushmore Rotary, PDG 2014-15, RPIC 2018-20 linda4rotary@me.com
Tom Katus, Rushmore Rotary, Omniciye Committee tmkatus@gmail.com

Denmark Friendship Exchange 2023

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO DENMARK?

There is a Rotary Friendship Exchange with Denmark this year, the group from our district will go July 1 to 12 or 14 and the group from Denmark will come here September 15 to 27 or 29.

This is a wonderful way to explore Southern Denmark, learn about Danish culture and make new friends.

If you are interested, please contact Pat Sutliff 605-593-2896, <pmsutliff@gmail.com>

Rotary Foundation Giving Match begins 1/1/23

Recall that when you contribute to Happy Bucks, the money is donated to Polio Plus (one branch of the Foundation). With each dollar we receive, the club receives one point. Points can then be used to reward an individual (a fellow Rotarian or community member) with a Paul Harris Fellowship (this takes 1,000 points). This is a big deal! Of note, this is the same for you personally. As you donate you acquire these points. For example, with your $10 or more contribution to Happy Bucks, one point per dollar is given to you. Once you have collected 1,000 points you can choose who to honor.

The Board decided to match, in points, all donations made by a member who donates to the Foundation between January 1 and May 31, 2023, one point per dollar. In other words, for those of you who are close to receiving a Paul Harris Fellowship, your donation in this window is essentially doubled and may put you over the 1,000 mark to achieve this special recognition. For those of you just starting a contribution or one time donation, this match will give you a great jump start to eventually reach Paul Harris Fellowship recognition.

Our Foundation is the lifeblood of our organization, please consider giving.

Story Book Island Gala deadline for sign ups

Storybook Island’s Gala to save the 100 acre woods is Saturday, February 11, 2023. If you haven’t already bought your tickets please note the deadline is January 31st. Please come out and support this great cause.

Community Action Volunteer Opportunities

A terrific group of Rotarians + helping out at Feeding South Dakota January 17th.

New members Toni Owan and Brittany Rimington

Toni Owan

Toni was born and raised in Williston, ND. She graduated from Williston High School in 1981. Toni spent 15 years in Hawaii and both of her sons were born in Hawaii. At the age 26, as a single mom, she decided to go to college. She received her 4 year degree, then a law degree from the University of Hawaii. In 2000, she accepted a job as a foreclosure attorney in Denver. She then started her own foreclosure firm in 2003. In 2010, se reconnected with a guy friend from high school who is now her husband (thank you facebook) and gained a daughter and 2 grandkids. She was tired of practicing law so she sold her law firm and in 2021 and moved from Denver to Summerset, SD. She is still employed at the firm that purchased her firm, working from home as their Chief Financial Officer. Her one son teaches English in Seoul, South Korea, the other son is a Sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed in Stuttgart Germany and her daughter is a 7th grade science teacher in Williston, ND.

Toni will turn 60 in January and you are all invited to her 60’s hippy themed 60th birthday "Peace Love & Party" at Kickstands Juke Joint Bar & Grill on Saturday 01/14/23 at 5pm where wearing a costume is highly recommended.

Brittany Rimington

Brittany just moved here from Eugene Oregon in May. She has a 6 year old St. Bernard named Albus. Brittany is a Quality Assurance Analyst and originally went to college for English Literature. In her time off time she volunteers at the public library. She is an avid reader and also enjoy sewing, cross-stitching and crochet. Brittany hopes to learn to garden in the next couple of years when she has the space for it. Welcome! We are so glad to have you both as part of our club.

The Rotary Foundation

Every day, Rotary members respond to challenges big and small, emerging and ongoing. And when members like you participate through service or with a donation to our Foundation, we make an even bigger impact.

Please donate online or send your contribution by mail to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE or one of our Annual Fund's areas of focus. Your gift will support projects like these and make Doing Good in the World possible.

Rotary's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Code of Conduct

What we say and how we behave matter. Although free expression is important, we must take responsibility for how our words and actions may affect others. The RI Board has approved a new DEI Code of Conduct to help Rotary members create and maintain an environment that is collaborative, positive, and healthy for everyone. Simply put, the DEI Code of Conduct asks you to: