Home Page | Rotary Club of Rapid City Rushmore

Rushmore Rotary is a local club composed of inspired individuals who translate their passions into relevant social causes to change lives in our community. We were organized in March 1986 and currently have 81 members. Rushmore Rotary Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at 7am at Howard Johnsons Express, 950 North Street, Rapid City, SD. Virtual Zoom meeting logins are available. Contact our President for a zoom invite or to find out more information about Rotary International visit Home | Rotary International

April 23, 2024 Meeting

Our speaker today was Dr. Cheryl Chapman, Executive Director of West Dakota Regional Water System. Dr. Chapman gave us an update on the Missouri River water project which is working to bring bulk water from the Missouri river to western SD. They are currently working on use and availability studies along with fundraising. With our growth, in dry years we are not able to meet demand. For more information please visit www.wdrws.org.

Host Families Needed for 2024-2025 School Year

We are looking for host families for our new Youth Exchange high school inbound student, a boy from Thailand by the name of Peach Tancharoam. He is a 16-year old looking forward to learning all about America and the Black Hills.

If you are interested in hosting him for part of the year, call

Bill Spindle at 907-227-4970 or email him at William.spindle@sdsmt.edu.

April 9, 2024 Meeting

Jon Cass received his member badge today after completing the new member requirements. Congratulations!

STORY BOOK ISLAND UPDATE

Malory Hook, the new Executive Director for Story Book Island gave us an update on the park. In 2023 The Christmas Light Nights raised $187,000. A new Santa’s workshop was added. The Winnie the Pooh Tree Gala raised $39,000, bringing the total raised to $461,000.The 2024 season opens May 25th. It is the 65th season. There will be adult fun nights, new decorations and photo ops. They will also have $1 train ride nights. The birthday house will also reopen for rentals. Mark your calendars for August 16th. That will be the park’s 65th birthday celebration.

Club committees

Rene Sorenson introduced all the club’s committees and their chairpersons to help new and older members get information on how they can be involved.

6th Grade 4-Way Test Essay Contest

Today we welcomed Olivia, the first place winner of the 6th grade 4-way test essay contest from South West Middle School. She read her winning essay, which was excellent!

Above is the 2nd place winner and the two that tied for third. Great job!

April 16, 2024 Meeting

Our speaker today was Dave Snyder, author and founder of Pathways Spiritual Sanctuary in Lead, SD. He created Pathways in 2010 as a free space set aside to be a quiet, peaceful, sacred place to walk, read, write, contemplate. It is open Memorial weekend through mid October, weather permitting. For more information please visit www.pathwaysspiritualsanctuary.org.

April 2, 2024 Meeting

Our speaker today was Dr. Eric Zimmer, Director of Philanthropy for the Black Hills Area Community Foundation. Founded in 1987, they support other non-profits by coordinating their needs. They help with set up, grant making, alignment with donors and offer administration support. With $60 million in assets they have been able to give $35 million in assets to the community. For more information on this vital group go to www.bhacf.org.

RC Alternative Academy 4-Way Test essay winners

Today we welcomed the winners of the 4-Way Test essay contest from the Rapid City Alternative Academy. The essays covered how the Rotary 4-Way Test can be instilled in our lives and in school.
4th place- Lexi Herman -$200
3rd place- Hunter Johnson -$300
2nd place- Talia Miller -$400
1st place- Geannavieve Weitzel who received a plaque and $500. The winning essay was read to us. What an impressive essay!
Congratulations to all!

Serving at Cornerstone Rescue Mission

Rushmore Rotarians served the April lunch at the Cornerstone Rescue Mission. Servers: Chris Russo, Shawn Walters, Hoodie Smock, Mary Kenner and Heidi Bell Geise. All had fun. Our next serving opportunity is May 7.

Community Action Volunteers

Several Rotarians battled the wind and distributed food for Feeding South Dakota.

The Rotary Foundation

Every day, Rotary members respond to challenges big and small, emerging and ongoing. And when members like you participate through service or with a donation to our Foundation, we make an even bigger impact.

Please donate online or send your contribution by mail to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE or one of our Annual Fund's areas of focus. Your gift will support projects like these and make Doing Good in the World possible.

Rotary's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Code of Conduct

What we say and how we behave matter. Although free expression is important, we must take responsibility for how our words and actions may affect others. The RI Board has approved a new DEI Code of Conduct to help Rotary members create and maintain an environment that is collaborative, positive, and healthy for everyone. Simply put, the DEI Code of Conduct asks you to: