On Saturday, Jan. 3, with a cold breeze crackling, 18 Rapid City Rushmore Rotarians and 5 family members descended en masse to the property where Jeff Kingsbury lives to clean up what remained of 56 downed trees from the recent windstorm. A handful of other volunteers joined us as well.
Chainsaws cranked to life while a crackerjack team collected limbs and transported them to slash piles. Seven gifted lumberjacks limbed and bucked the trees.
Hard work was the mantra, and after only 3 ½ hours, the property was unrecognizable as trees were limbed, bucked, and stacked! The slash piles are girthy, but manageable. Everyone retired into the home of Dan and Arlette Schweitzer and enjoyed Arlette’s chili, Mexican cornbread and brownies.
Jeff and the Schweitzers are so grateful for everyone who gifted their equipment, time, and talents. This is a terrific example of the value, friendship, and fellowship that Rotary provides in communities throughout the world.
Another Act of Kindness to commemorate our Club’s 40-year anniversary!!
Kevin Miles, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of SD, spoke at the Jan. 6, Rushmore Rotary meeting, sharing more about his organization's expansion into the Black Hills area.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Dakota is building a Ronald McDonald House in Rapid City. Located at the corner of East Fairmont Boulevard and Elm Avenue, the new facility is slated to be opened in late 2026. Learn more about the House in the Hills at https://rmhcsodak.org/house-in-the-hills/
Thank you, Kevin, for sharing the story of the Ronald McDonald House with our club.
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, three Rushmore Rotarians and two spouses, as well as three other volunteers, helped to clean up downed trees and branches at Chapel in the Hills in Rapid City. The downed trees were the result of the recent windstorm that hit the area recently. They volunteers filled several trailers with heaps of branches.
This is another Act of Kindness to commemorate our club's 40th anniversary.
Rushmore Rotary recognized five @Rapid City Alternative Academy winning students with Student of Distinction Awards and 30 nominees by hosting a Student of Distinction Reception. At this mornings meeting we welcomed two of the winners and their families. Each winner is given a $50 gift card. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
@Patrick Harrison, District 5610 PI Coordinator, held a Rotary Public Image seminar in Rapid City on Sunday, January 11, 2026. We would like to thank @Youth and Family Services for hosting our event. We learned a lot of great ways to promote our clubs. Thanks to DG Bruce Nearhood and all who attended, especially Patrick for taking the time to come out here.
Through our Impact Club we had the joy of creating Valentine’s Day cards for @JourneyOn, a wonderful nonprofit organization that makes a real difference in our community. 💕 It was a simple but meaningful way to spread love, encouragement, and kindness to those they serve. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to support JourneyOn and be part of sharing a little extra love this Valentine’s Day!
Photos from the Puzzle Social with Rotarians and friends. We didn't win but had a great time. The # 1 team finished in 52 minutes. Amazing. Thanks Deb K. for organizing.
We had our own @Linda Peterson, @Rick Edelen and @Shawn Walters share with us their experience distributing wheelchairs for children through @Hope Haven in Romania and Ukraine. They helped assemble, fit and clean wheelchairs that were then given to handicapped children. This was all handled by volunteers partnering up with local Rotary clubs. This was possible through a Rotary Foundation Global Grant through the @Rotary Club of Sioux Falls West and the @Rotary Club of Izmail Ukraine. Another great example of your Rotary Foundation Annual Funds donations put to good use. To give please visit Rotary.org.
Rushmore Rotarian Pat Roseland presented at today's meeting, sharing his research on artist Emmet Sullivan, the creator of Dinosaur Park in Rapid City.
Dinosaur Park, located high on a ridge overlooking Rapid City, features a variety of dinosaur sculptures. The park was a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project and Sullivan, a local artist who had formerly worked in North Dakota as a lawyer, was commissioned to create it.
Construction began in March 1936. Sullivan devised his own system of construction, setting two inches of black pipe in cement for the framework and covering it with steel mesh and more concrete.
Dinosaur Park was dedicated on June 1, 1937. The park has been a mainstay of Rapid City ever since.
In 2024, the park received $3.6 million in upgrades, including accessible pedestrian routes, safety railings and rest areas along the trail.
Thank you Pat for sharing this interesting Rapid City history.
