Page 2 - 2021 Impact Report Utah Rotary

2 DISTRICT GOVERNOR LETTER

Certainly no one can deny RY2020-21 will go down in history as one of
the Rotary world’s most memorable years ever. While we won’t soon forget
COVID-19, this District Governor prefers to remember how in 2020-21
“Rotary Opened Opportunities” beyond anything we could have imagined
after this virus turned our world upside down.
Despite masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing, there was
much we had to forgo of normal club activities, including in-person
meetings, fundraisers in support of club projects, and most “service above
self” … at least, projects which couldn’t be done outdoors. Still, we
Service Impact Report
powered through and found many creative ways to succeed. At the end of
this very unusual year, our clubs have reported a great deal of impactful
service in their communities and District 5420 had more than a few
impressive wins; so, instead of being remembered as the COVID Governor
… I want to be known as the More Good News Governor! A few examples
of the good which happened in RY2020-21 are as follows:
• Utah Rotary District 5420’s “first ever” participation in High Country
District 5420
PETS, a multi-district Presidents-elect Training Seminar held in Denver,
saw 27 PEs, 11 PENs and 6 district leaders take part in a long weekend of
amazing training.

• The creation of the Native American Initiative chaired by Rotarian of
the Year Paul Summers for post-COVID “service above self” addressing
the disproportionate needs of several of Utah’s 11 tribal communities.
• A “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” Task Force was launched, with Tim Nicolaysen as chair, to develop a program to
open discussion in clubs around the district on this important topic.
• A Club of the Month program recognized clubs for “bigger, better, bolder service which changes lives” as well as for
“other accomplishments.” Congratulations to the following:
District Governor Letter
• Sandy Rotary for “Measurable Improvement” (January)

• Park City Twilight Rotary for “bigger, better, bolder service” in collecting freon canisters for disposal (January)
• Dixie Sunrise Rotary for bagging, boxing and distributing almost 20,000 meals to families in need (February)

• Park City Rotary for leading the district in members of the Polio Plus Society pledging $100 a year until polio is
finally and forever eradicated from the earth (February)

• Holladay Rotary for “growing Rotary with innovation” with 7 new members (March)
• Salt Lake Rotary for leading the district as #1 in per capita foundation giving (March)

• Cedar City Rotary for “staying the course” during the pandemic (April)
• Richfield Rotary for BBB service with native American scholarships, and a Global grant for Kiribati (April)

• Moab Rotary for ongoing Public Image efforts to bring Rotary to the forefront of the community (May)
• Hurricane Valley for leading the district in membership growth (May)

• St. George Rotary for a Guinness Book of World Records attempt to recognize 64 new Paul Harris Fellow
awards presented – including Utah Governor Spencer Cox - at a single meeting (June)

• Park City Sunrise for their BBB semi-annual community hazardous waste collection project (June)