This week the Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise held its 5th meeting of the 2009-2010 year which makes it the 650th meeting of the club!
While we sadly accepted the resignation of one of our long time club members, we were very pleased to induct into our club former member Lynn Spafford. Lynn was one of the charter members of the club and we’re so glad he saw the light and returned to us.
After a huge list of announcements which included a reminder of the visit of our District Governor, Gil Trujillo next Thursday, Ted Stromness introduced our speaker Ed Rogers, Director of Student Services at Dixie Applied Technology College. Ed, a long time community resident and the well known voice of Dixie State College Athletics and the St. George Road Runners, has been in education for 13 years, the last 2 1/5 years with DXATC.
Many of us were unfamiliar with the program of DXATC and were pleasantly surprised to at the numbers of offerings. There are 6 Certificate Programs, Custom Fit training, and Specialized training programs. While some apprenticeship programs such as Plumbing and Electrical are 4 year programs; there a many short term training options such as CPR and advanced emergency care classes. The cost of education at DXATC is very reasonable, often around $2,500 to complete a Certificate and financial aid is available. Many classes are open entry adding to the personalization of the offerings.
Last year, 5,600 students registered for programs at DXATC. More information is available on the web site: 222.dxatc.edu.
Don’t forget the DG visit NEXT week!
Marla Shelby-Drabner, 2009-2010 President
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Ed Rodgers DXATC
Monday, July 27, 2009
2009 WASRAG World Water Summit
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Thursday, July 23, 2009
Club Assembly
This meeting was our first Club Assembly of the year. That means, simply, an informational and brainstorming session. To lay the ground work for our discussion, Mark Heiner, President Elect shared a video he brought back from his trip to the Rotary International Meeting in England. This video discusses a matter high on the list of RI concerns, safe water world wide. The video outlines WASRAG projects to bring safe water to villages where people walk miles a day for water which, after that walk, may or may not be safe to drink. Many of the solutions available to the developing world are simple and affordable.
At the conclusion of the video the group brainstormed projects for the club and the President will forward the suggestions to the International Committee chair for projects including the safe water projects above and the Club Service Chair for projects focused on the community. The group also brainstormed some potential fundraising options which will allow us to give of ourselves to those projects we select to the support for the year. Several very good ideas arose from the discussion, but we have to credit Shayne Whitwer for offering a possibility that currently is not in use by other clubs and would offer a unique and fun way to raise funds.
Sadly, we accepted the resignation of long time member Hal Eward whose life does not permit his participation with the Club at this time. We wish Hal the best and hope he will consider joining us again when life’s crooked path straightens out a bit for him.
May I conclude with best wishes for a great Pioneer Day Weekend? Hope there will be an opportunity for a little R & R for one and all.
Marla Shelby-Drabner, President
Sunday, July 19, 2009
2009 Rotary International Convention
This week Mark Heiner, our PEN gave his report on the Rotary International Convention held in Birmingham, England
It's been said a time or two, that once an individual member of Rotary International has been given a chance to attend an International Convention they will return a Rotarian. This can now be said for Mark and his wife Jen
While attending the RI Convention, Mark and Jen were introduced to, and became life long friends of Rotarians world wide. He commented on how He and his wife were able to meet the children who drank from the wells that Rotarians had dug, and met the Parents whose children had received immunizations given by fellow Rotarians
An experience that will never be forgotten, Mark and his wife have plans to continue attending RI conventions, and giving service beyond self due to the gift from his fellow Rotarians at the Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise who truly planted the seed that has now grown into what we call a Rotarian.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Pass the Gavel
Welcome to the 647th meeting of the Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise!
Out-going Club President Paul Gooch and In-coming Club President Marla Shelby-Drabner welcomed members and guests to an evening of recognition and reminiscing.
The reminiscing part was a fun slide show prepared by John Johnson featuring many of the numerous photos John has snapped over the past year. The slide show included photos that have made it to the blog and photos that have not. This presentation served as a back drop for the meeting reminding all of us of the opportunities we have had this past year to learn and to serve.
In addition to a number of spouses and friends in attendance, we welcomed Special Guest Glade Hamilton our 
Assistant District Governor and his lovely wife. Glade presented The Presidential Citation award to Paul Gooch honoring the work of Paul’s year. Of the 49 Rotary Clubs in Utah we are privileged to be among only 9 who achieved this award this year. Quite an honor. Glade officially installed the officers for the 2009-2010 year and Paul pinned the traveling President’s pin on Marla’s jacket turning the reins over to her for the next 12 months.
Paul recognized the 9 new Paul Harris Fellows. This achievement brings the Club to the status of a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club. Also an amazing accomplishment. To learn more about the Rotary Foundation, click on the following link__________ Paul thanked the out-going Board and Officers with a small Rotary gift and presented roses to his wife Chantra for her support.
It was also Paul’s pleasure to honor long time club member, Greg Nielsen as the 2008-2009 Rotarian of the Year. Greg is one of those people who indeed practice Service Above Self always just getting things done. We thank you Greg for your service.
Assistant Governor Glade shared some words of Rotary wisdom with the group. Then, Marla presented the Past President’s Plaque to Paul and had the privilege of pining Paul’s new Past President Pin onto his jacket. At that point Paul took a deep breath, sat down and hung his jacket on the back of his chair.
Thank you to all who shared this evening with us.
Next week, the Adventures of Rotary International as experienced by President Elect Mark Heiner.
Marla Shelby-Drabner, President
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Making Tracks the Dino Way
Our meeting this morning was the 1st meeting of the 2009 – 2010 year. Our out-going President, Paul Gooch, and in-coming President, Marla Shelby-Drabner tag teamed the “hand-off” meeting. After a shared welcome and announcements, including a reminder of the Paul Harris Recognition and Changing of the Gavel
Dinner next Thursday Paul ceremoniously left the head table – taking Chantra with him – and returned to his old haunting ground, the Hog Table.Our speakers today were Jon Christofferson, Director of the Dinosaur Discovery Museum and Dixie State College Intern Melissa Frederick. We learned that the St. George City operated site came about by the surprise discovery of Dr. Johnson in 2000 when in moving some earth on his farm the first dinosaur tracks were discovered which led to the interpretive museum opening in 2005. This increasingly popular location had over 34,000 visitors in 2008 and through June 1st of this year has had 24,000 visitors.
At the Discovery Site at Johnson Farm you will see some extraordinary and very rare dinosaur tracks and other evidence of an age between 195 – 198 million years ago. This age is at the beginning of what scientists call the Jurassic Period. During this time the land in this location was near sea level and much closer to the equator. Streams and lakes once covered portions of southern Utah and northwestern Arizona and deposited the rocks we see today.
The Site includes not only the common impression tracks found in other locations in this area, but also a large number of spectacular track natural casts. As the water around the shores of ancient Lake Dixie were receding, thick mud began to dry up. The animals came into the area to eat and drink, leaving their footprints in the mud to be preserved. Other dinosaurs walked on this new surface. Finally as the lake level rose, a thick bed of sand buried the preexisting surface. Over time, this sand hardened into stone and became the sandstone layer that we see today preserving the dinosaur track casts which were literally natural casts of dinosaur feet.
Please follow the attached link for more information about this fascinating piece of St. George History and be sure to add this to your list of “must sees” in the area.
Our meeting today concluded with a thank you round of applause for Paul and his team for a great year now completed.
Again, a reminder that our next meeting will be next Thursday EVENING! Dinner at 6:30 at the Abbey Inn. Hope to see you there!
Jamboree Bound
Several months ago, we were approached by this young Boy Scout for funding help to get to the 2010 National Jamboree. While not part of our 
normal fundraising efforts, our club members generously opened their wallets in horseplay and raised some money that will make a significant dent in his cost to go. We presented a check to him in this morning's meeting.Have a fabulous trip, Mr. Harvey! And thanks to the Rotarians of Dixie Sunrise for their kind gift.