Congratulations to Rushmore Rotary members who were recognized as Paul Harris Fellows:
Kara Flynn (+1), Jeff Kingsbury (+5) and Jennifer Rollins (+6).
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.
Rushmore Rotary and friends at work cleaning up a portion of Highway 16 as part of the SD DOT Adopt a Highway Program and our Community Action Committee. Great work!!
Members and friends also served at the Cornerstone Mission fulfilling a monthly commitment. WE ARE PEOPLE OF ACTION.
Our speakers today were Rushmore Rotarians Bruce and Kim Nearhood who shared information on the Rotary Peace Fellowship, after visiting a Peace Center in Istanbul, Turkey. Peacebuilding and conflict prevention is one of the seven areas of focus for Rotary International. The Fellowship Program offers both a certificate program and Master's degree program, focused around four roles in promoting peace: practioners, educators, advocates, and mediators. To learn more about Rotary Peace Fellows go to https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/promoting-peace#
Our condolences go out to fellow member Steve Bareis, on the passing of his father, Dr. Reuben Bareis. Steve shared his father's 1958 Rotary Handbook "Adventures in Service" to our Club this morning. Dr. Bareis was a dedicated physician practicing medicine for over forty years in Rapid City. He was a stalwart member of Rapid City Rotary for 60 years, spreading the principle of ‘Service Above Self’ and recruiting new members. His obituary can be found at https://www.kirkfuneralhome.com/obituary/reuben-bareis
Rotary Day went "Live" with the District 5610 Raffle Drawing -- held annually to help raise funds for the Rotary District Designated Fund. The raffle raised $45,695 which 50% comes back to the Clubs for Grants, (after 3 years), 30% for Global grants, and 20% for Polio Plus. Thank you Jennifer Rollins for chairing this District raffle and creating excitement about all that Rotary does. Clubs in the district provide the prizes (30) and winners were represented from all across the district. Congratulations. Results of the drawing can be found on the District website https://rotary5610.org/sitepage/district-raffle
We also voted on Rotarian of the Year who will be recognized on June. 10. This award is given out to an individual who exhibits “Service Above Self” in their daily activities and who promote Rotary by their actions and involvements.
Busy Rotary Day, Tiffany Gikling, Chair of the Impact Club shared information on the new Impact Club by Rushmore Rotary. The Impact Club officially started on October 18, 2024, and meets twice a month to meet the needs of members who cannot commit to weekly daytime meetings. They currently have 13 members and are always looking to increase their numbers. Their focus is small projects that impact the community in partnership with other non-profits. They meet at Zymurcracy Brewery the 2nd and 4th Mondays 5:30 - 6:30 pm. They have volunteered at Storybook Island, Journey On, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and participated in other service projects in the area.
Jean Cline, President of Storybook Island Board gave an update on five pending projects in the park: bridges, steps, updates to Smokey Bear and Winnie the Pooh. She said SBI applied for Vision Funding for a new entrance to the park. The Rotary project to upgrade the Gazebo is in progress. SAVE THE DATE FOR THE STORYBOOK ISLAND GALA SATURDAY JUNE 21st.
Our speakers today were From WellFully Care Center, Si Issler and Carrie Linn.
WellFully is a Premier Adolescent Care Center that provides Addiction Recovery, Psychiatric Residential Treatment, Adolescent Crisis Care and Promotes Mental Health.
Residential treatment is for all girls ages 10 - 17 with 24 hour supervision.
2 of our new members, Deb Kjerstad and Laurie Cope completed their new member checklists and received their official Rotary Badges. Congratulations!
We were honored to host Ralph Zuke, a visiting Rotarian from St Louis making his way by bicycle (with a rickshaw) to the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada in June. He is raising money and awareness for Polio Plus, Rotary’s program to eradicate polio worldwide .
Our speaker today was Dr. Matthew Simmons, neurologist. He spoke on medical history in western South Dakota. He discussed Native American medicine and as white settlers arrived they shared knowledge. Lewis & Clark documented medical findings and depended on the native population for help. Many future expeditions brought a lot of doctors to the area, along with many pioneers bringing medical books to take care of themselves.
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