June 26, 2012 Installation Banquet!

Another Rotary year has come and gone. Approximately 50 Rotarians, spouses and guests attended the annual Installation Banquet for a "changing of the guard" as our President Paul Damon passed the gavel to incoming President Dan Hansen.  The event was held at the Iron Gate Grill restaurant at the Eagle Mountain Golf Course in brigham City.

President Damon presented the club with a "year in review" and highlighted many of the accomplishments of the past year including:

• The annual dictionary project - dictionaries for every third grader in Box Elder County
• Peach Days Ticket Sales - Raising over $10,000 for use in projects throughout the community and internationally
• The newest fundraiser - 5k/10k Fun Run/Walk at Mantua Dam; Raising funds for the Boys and Girls Club and the Brigham Fine Arts Center
• Work crew at the Bike Trail east of Mantua Dam
• Great progress on the "Welcome to Brigham City" sign at the intersection of Main and 1100 South
• Discussions of a possible Habitat for Humanity collaboration in the future
• Sponsorship and participants in the Mexico Project - Including the building of three houses and distribution of books and school supplies for elementary schools in Puerto Peñasco Mexico
• 6 youth to RYLA Leadership Camp
• 3 $500 scholarhips to local youth

President Damon also presented the Rotarian of the Year recognition and plaque to Jeff Scott for his involvement in Rotary this year as a newer Rotarian. Jeff also filled in the reminaing term as Director for Rotarian Jerry Capener as he and his wife left the area on service mission for their church.

Checks were presented to Juenelle Jeffries, Jenny Schutlz and Susan Neidert from the Boys and Girls Club and the Fine Arts Center.

Following his remarks and thanks to all involved this last year, especially the directors and committee chairs, President Damon welcomed and installed the officers for the coming year.

President Dan Hansen
President Elect Kevin Blaylock
Secretary Larry Boyer
Treasurer Jodi McFall
Directors: Eve Jones, Malone Molgard, Jeff Scott, Tere Moore

Pins, plaques, gifts and gavel were exchanged.

Incoming President Hansen thanked all for their attendance and their commitment to Rotary. He talked of his attendance at the International Convention in Bangkok and the impression it had on him as well as the friendships formed there.

He shared his goals for the coming year including:

• Community Service project at least once a quarter
• Partnering with neighboring clubs for an International Service Project.
• Continuing support of the Mexico Project
• Working to increase individual involvement in all aspects of the Club.

Many thanks were expressed to family and friends and to the members of the Brigham City Rotary Club.

Now, let's get busy!!

Tuesday June 19

Our program was arranged today by Bob Thurgood.

We were honored to have Corbin Willis address us.  He is a WWII and Korean War veteran and spent time in a German concentration camp after being shot down over Europe in WWII. He shared his amazing and stirring story with us.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02220/

"When I started flying missions over Germany in July of '44, I heard there was a 91 percent attrition rate but I guess at my age I just thought I would be in the 9 percent that did make it."

His luck held out until his 22nd mission, when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft shells. He delivers a stunning story dotted with heartbreaking humor. He survived interrogation, scabies, a crippling weight loss, and a 100-mile march through the snow from one POW camp to another in Germany.

Willis's ability to survive and triumph over the experiences that followed months of hardship in overcrowded Germany POW camps, a return home to a family that thought he was dead and then service as a flight leader and test pilot in Korea are a testament to his faith, courage and belief in the future.

To view and read his handwritten account, check out this site:

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02220/transcriptturner?ID=pm0001001&page=1&submit.x=7&submit.y=12

We are grateful for the opportunity to hear from Mr Willis and salute him for his service and dedication to this great nation.

Don't miss the Installation Banquet next Tuesday evening at the Iron Gate Grill.

Mexico Trip a great success!!

We returned Saturday night from our weeklong trip to Mexico where we participated in the building of three houses, distributed books and school supplies to elementary schools, held a cultural exchange with the elementary school children, and delivered shoes to a local orphanage.

If that wasn't enough, a number of the Rotarians in attendance also participated in the forming a new Rotary Club in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico!

 

Rather than post a bunch more photos to this site, I'll give you links to a blog and Facebook page that have lots of pictures and info about the trip

The Sonoran Resorts Blog with a great write up of the project:

http://www.sonoranresorts.mx/?p=5132

Search "Interact District 5420" on Facebook for lots and lots of pictures!

We want to extend a big thank you to the Brigham City Rotary Club and its members for your donations and support.  You made the trip possible for our participants and made a difference in an entire community!

Time for some Catch Up!

Once again I must apologize for my absence and not getting the blog updated. It has been a wild spring with traveling and the Mexico Service Project.  Hopefully I'm home to stay for a while now. (Or maybe I shouldn't be so hopeful... ;)

May the 5th we heard from Norm Bateman of Questar Gas as he presented a very informative program about home energy audits. It is amazing the capabilities Questar has for reviewing energy usage and providing suggestions for saving money throughout the year. Ann Henderson arranged for the program.  Thanks to Ann for setting this up and to Norm for his information.

May the 12th was our annual Rotarians and Daughters Luncheon. Eve Jones arranged for the program and we were delighted to welcome Michael and Vanessa Ballam who presented a preview of the upcoming shows with the Utah Festival Opera!

Just goes to show that attendance at Rotary is well worth your time!

May 19th we are scheduled to hear from Mr Corbin Willis as he shares his experiences as a POW in WWII.

May 26th is our annual Installation Banquet at the Iron Gatee Grill at Eagle Mountain Golf Course.

Sports Month Continues...

We were pleased to have Beth Gurrister, chair of the Scholarship Committee, introduce our Scholarship winners.  We heard briefly from Lexi Payne, Collin Shakespear and Whitney Collins. Great young people with a great future ahead of them.  We're so excited to hear of their enthusism and future plans.  Good luck to each of them as they continue their education.

President Paul Damon announced a number of Club donations including funds to the Mexico Trip group and the Boys & Girls Club/Fine Arts Center money raised at our 5k/10k run.

Bob Duke introduced Richard "Smitty" Smith, Director of Basketball Relations for the Utah Jazz, who gave us an update of the team, where they've been and where they are heading in the future.

Thanks to Bob and to Smitty for this informative presentation.

Next week, Ann Henderson has arranged for a representative from Questar Gas to present to the club.