You missed a fabulous Thai meal prepared by our own April Malik and a fun night of corn hole competition. First place went to Bruce Nearhood and Tiffany Gikling; second place to Scott Van Dam and Kim Baker and third place to Deb Niemi and Scott Kenner. There was no lack of form or function! Thank you to Heidi and Bruce for organizing the celebration. Our club is currently at 74 members!! Be sure to invite a guest to an upcoming meeting.
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication of Rotary Plaza at Rapid City High School was held on April 20th. The Plaza idea started in 2018 with the passing of fellow Rotarian George Lyons, who loved going into the classroom and surprising young people who were chosen as Student of Distinction. George's spouse, Sondra, established a memorial to benefit RCHS students and staff in a permanent way. With a matching grant from Rotary International and additional financial support from Rushmore Rotary and individual members, we created the Rotary Plaza to provide outdoor space (concrete pad, benches, bike and skateboard racks, trash receptacles) for staff and students. The project could not have been completed without the following key partners: Rushmore Rotary, RCHS, Western Dakota Technical College Welding & Fabrication Department, KLJ Engineering, LEI, Timber Ridge, and Bob Quinn Construction. A big thank you to Dana Foreman, Carmen Hansen, and Sean Binder for their dedication in seeing this project through to the dedication.
We have set a workday at Whiteclay for Saturday, May 7. Projects include:
1. Cleanup and painting of back room to prepare for second quilting machine (arriving mid-May)! 2. Cleanup and setup of woodworking equipment in workshop, possibly installing a garage door 3. Yard cleanup and preparation for gardening projects, pruning crabapple trees. Contact Linda and Norm Peterson if you are planning to go. 605-341-5006, cell 605-390-0800
Come and explore the place where magic happens. Lots of new updates have been made in the park to discover. Saturday May 28, 2022 from 9am to 7pm. Cake and beverages served (first come basis).
The Four-Way Test is an ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings. Each year Rushmore Rotary Youth Advocacy Committee sponsors an Essay Contest at Rapid City High School based on the Four Way Test. We are proud to announce the winners for 2022: 1st place--Jasua, 2nd place--Kevin, 3rd place--Rayven, and 4th place--Kaylee. Jasua’s essay was read at our weekly meeting and it made a great connection between Rotary’s guiding principles and the expectations set out for students at RCHS. Congratulations all. Pictured with the students are Sean Binder, RCHS advisor and Scott Van Dam, Club President.
Laura Jones new member. Laura is Elevate Rapid City's first housing coordinator. She will work closely with local and state agencies to identify issues and create strategies to improve housing in the Black Hills. Originally from Nebraska, Laura graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in English and minor in political science, and a master’s in public administration. Prior to joining the Elevate Rapid City team, Laura worked as the grants manager for the YMCA. Hobbies include hiking and kayaking, playing board games, baking, or spending time with her husband Eammon and their cat Toad.
Jeff Kingsbury new member. Jeff has been an actor and director for the Black Hills Playhouse for the last 12 years. He spent 24 years running his own theatre company and youth theatre program in his home state of Washington. For the past 22 years, Kingsbury has also worked as a highly coveted auctioneer for charities throughout the US and Canada, including JDRF, American Heart Association, March of Dimes, and various symphonies, private schools and hospital foundations. Hobbies include water and downhill skiing, swimming, and cooking. Jeff looks forward to building strong relationships with members and the community.
Bruce Nearhood was elected to the position of District Governor Nominee (DGN) for District 5610 for the 2022-23 Rotary year. The following year, 2023-24, Bruce will serve as the District Governor Elect (DGE) and he will serve as the District Governor (DG) in 2024-25. Bruce has been a member of the Rapid City Rushmore Club since 1987, has served as Club President, and also has held club leadership roles as Foundation Chair and Membership Chair, successfully launching effective growth and retention campaigns for his club and personally sponsoring eight new members.
Jennifer Rollins received the District Governor Award for Rotarian of the Quarter. Jennifer has gone above and beyond and has proven to be extraordinary in her service above self. Jennifer Rollins is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel having served 22 years in active duty as a B-1 Bomber aviator. Her ultimate community passion is Rotary and became a member of Rushmore Rotary in 2013. Along with involvement on various club committees, she also attended a service project mission to Guatemala and two Friendship Exchanges. Jennifer is in her second year serving as the chairperson for the District Global Grant/Vocational Training Team subcommittee, with special focus on project initiatives to address human trafficking. In 2021, she graduated from Leadership South Dakota and looks forward to putting her collective experience into action as President of Rushmore Rotary 2022-2023.
The Community Action Committee has selected two recurring volunteer opportunities:
Feeding South Dakota. We meet the third Tuesday of every monthat 4:30 pm to pack boxes for their mobile pantry or backpack program. The west river facility provides 1500 backpacks weekly and distributes 75 to 80 lbs of food to families once per month at 42 distribution centers west river; all thanks to corporations, retailers, and individual donors.
Highway 16 Cleanup. Rushmore Rotary is part of the Adopt a Highway Program that began in 1990. The Adopt-A-Highway Program provides an opportunity for organizations, businesses and/or individuals to volunteer to pick up litter in the right-of-way of Pennington County roads and be recognized for their efforts. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 21st at 10am. Meet at Old McDonalds Farm. We will head to Pizza Ranch after. Other ideas for one-time opportunities are welcomed. Contact Todd Hyronimus or David Dolan with your ideas.
We have set a workday at Whiteclay for Saturday, May 7. Projects include: 
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