Shari West-Twittero was awarded her 7th Paul Harris today. Way to go Shari!

 

  

As part of Jennifer's last Rotary Day as president she honored the board members with her gratitude and a Rotary 4-way test challenge coin. 

Jennifer also recognized her 12 Presidential Picks, people that have helped the club behind the scenes. They were presented with a Rotary International challenge coin. Congratulations to Tiffany Gikling, Kim Baker, Mary Kenner, Cindy Howell, Linda Rabe, Deb Niemi, John Johnson, Mark Barry, Rene Sorenson, Sandy White Shield, Bill Spindle, and April Malik.

 

We learned that Jennifer set 15 goals for her presidential year and met 12. The club will be receiving a citation from the district for meeting at least half of her goals. Congratulations!

 

As a club we have been addressing and planning for an inclusive future. This includes engaging diverse communities, intergenerational and people with disabilities. CBT training is available on the Rotary website at my.rotary.org in the learning center.

 

We also learned that a global grant led by the Brookings club dealing with educating businesses to recognize signs of past trauma in employees and referring them to the proper places for help was rejected, but the district is working to resolve and re submit. Another grant was to raise awareness of human trafficking within the Pined Ridge Indian Reservation through focus groups, educating kids, youth summits, and data collecting.

 

Jennifer will be sending out information on Rotary Organization 101 and encourages all to take it in order to learn the different levels of Rotary to help communication and getting the job done. This can also be found at my.rotary.org in the learning center.

 

 

At today’s meeting Sandy White Shield and Rene Sorenson received their Rotary coins awarded by President JenniferRollins last week as part of her Presidential 12.

 

The membership contest has come to a close. Although we have lost members this year through moves and life events we have brought in over 10% of our total in new members. The women won! Get planning that victory party men!!

 

 

Our speaker today was Lisa Allison with the Cornerstone Rescue Mission. They provide a soup kitchen, emergency shelter, veterans wing with 14 beds, and prison transition. There is also a women’s & children’s home with 68 beds in a different part of town along with a thrift store that will gladly take your donations. Cornerstone works with the motivated homeless to assist in getting back on track. Shelter occupants have 30 days to find a job with help and get assistance with life skills. Cornerstone is always in need of volunteers to cook and/or serve lunch and dinner meals. They are funded by community donations and receive no state or federal funding. If you would like to help, or learn more go to cornerstone mission.org.

Our club has been collecting toiletries for the shelter residents and they were presented to Lisa today.

       
Our annual transition dinner was held last night at Firehouse Wine Cellars in Rapid City. It was well attended and a wonderful time as we said goodbye and thank you to Jennifer Rollins for her year and welcomed this years president, Michael Steve. We look forward to another great year in Rotary!

 

 

April Malik and Kyle Bargman received their Rotary coins at the transition dinner as recipients of Jennifer’s Presidential 12 announced at the June 13th meeting.

 

New member Bo Seacrest received his Rotary pin and 4-Way Test plaque today.

Bo, Electric Operations Manager for Black Hills Energy, has been in the energy industry for 16 years. Growing up in Nebraska and graduating college from SDSM&T, Bo and his wife Joanna call home here in the Black Hills(Bear Butte Valley) with their three children, Cale, Lucy and Macy, along with their loyal dog Emmy. When he is not with his family Bo spends his free time focusing on football officiating and getting ready for every game.

Welcome Bo!

To raise money for the Rotary Foundation we auctioned off a cheesecake made by Sandy White shield. $120 was raised! Thank you Scott Vandam.

 

 

Our speakers today were Bridget Marshall, Executive Director of Journey On,  and Molly Miller, Loss Team Director. Their organization was previously Front Porch Coalition. They recently merged with Journey On which partners with the Rapid City Police Department to help the houseless  needs in our community including teens and soon families and children that struggle to get to school. The Front Porch Coalition brought over services dealing with suicide. Partnered with the Pennington and Lawrence County Sheriffs they work with families of suicide on site and walk them through the process of dealing with the death. they also do suicide prevention, monthly support groups, survivor outreach and grief classes. They are available to these families 24 hrs/day.  Their major fundraiser is the Suicide Awareness Walk held 9/23/23 9:00am at the chimney shelter at Canyon Lake Park.

For more information on this incredible group visit journeyon-rapidcity.org and frontporchcoalition.org.