Wha's behind the electrical outlet we take SO for granted?

Those of us who shared the 677th Meeting of the Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise learned some of the behind the scenes strategies and work that make it possible to turn on our lights and plug in our computers. It was our privilege to host Phillip Solomon, the Energy Services Director for St. George City. Mr. Solomon, who has been with St. George City water and energy departments for 25 years is a Registered Professional Engineer in the states of Utah and Arizona. He has a Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Utah State University. And, on top of his very heavy work schedule with the City Energy Department is an adjust professor in the Business Department at Dixie Sate College.

It would be impossible to do an adequate summary of all we learned about power and how it get to us. So let me just highlight a few points.

Power is traded HOURLY! Not only is the actual power bought and sold, the transmission of the power must be traded. And, purchased power must be balanced with City generated (Natural Gas) power. Those of us who live in the covered areas of the City benefit from a very low electricity rate of $.071 per kwh because of the department's ability to balance all the elements of providing power. Currently 27,000 customers are being served.

Challenges for the City's Energy Department include the balance of green house gases, carbon tax or CAP and Trade, and renewables (solar and wind). Please visit the ST. George City web sit to learn more, it is fascinating.

Next week: Terri Kane, CEO/Administrator of Dixie Regional Medical Center who will bring us up to date on Healthcare Reform.

See you then!
Marla Shelby-Drabner, President
Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise.

BLOG Special Edition

It is my great pleasure to honor a member of our Club and his very dedicated spouse in the BLOG Special Edition.

It was my great pleasure on February 18th to pin on Carl Kulyk's shirt the Paul Harris Plus 2 pin. Carl joins a very elite number of Rotarians who have reached this level of support of the Paul Harris Foundation of Rotary International.

Not only does Carl have the distinction of Paul Harris Plus 2, his wife Caroline has been bestowed a Paul Harris Fellowship - a gift from Car. While we did not have the honor of awarding the Paul Harris Fellowship to Caroline, on February 25th it was my great pleasure to present to Caroline the "Chauffeur Extraordinaire" Special Award for Service Above Self. In case anyone does not know, Carl had a significant injury, surgery and recovery which made it impossible for him to drive. So his dedicated Caroline has been "driving Mr. Carl" to the meetings for weeks. It was her dedication to him and to Rotary that earned her this prestigious (and unique) award.

Thank you Carl and Caroline. It is a privilege to know you and to share Rotary with you.

And, in your honor, one of John Johnson's great shots of the beautiful

area in which we live

Marla Shelby-Drabner, President
Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise.

This meeting was "SWEET!!!!!!!!!"

This meeting, the 677th all time meeting of the Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise was undoubtedly one of the sweetest meetings we've ever had. We learned about and samples (YUM) Amber Lyn Chocolate. This nationally distributed sugar free and no sugar added chocolate is made right here in St. George. Ben Peterson of the family owned business told us of the growth of the company started 10 years ago by his father.

The product, Amber Lyn Chocolate, is named for his sister and uses only high grade raw product which is primarily raw chocolate imported from Belgium. The dark chocolate is sugar free and the mild chocolate is classified as "no sugar added" as the milk product sugars must be recognized. It is sweetened with maltetol, a wheat based sweetener as opposed to the common corn based sweeteners which are much harder on the system.

The Amber Lyn products are gluten free an diabetic friendly. The company, which started in the family basement, now has a full factory location with retail outlet and an affiliation with Costco which helped launch the new very successful internet portion of the company's sales. See their web site: http://www.amberlynchocolates.com/ to be tempted. It you haven't tried it, you're missing something terrific.

Reminder: District Conference here in ST. George, May 13-15. You won't want o miss it.

Marla Shelby-Drabner, President

Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise

A adventurous young man came to share.

The 675th all time meeting of the Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise welcomed Rotary Exchange Student Adam Dalton.

Adam, currently an employee of the Abbey Inn and student at Dixie State College was born in Florida, raised in Arizona, and has adventurer/traveler deep in his soul He tells us he was honored to be selected as a Rotary Exchange Student to Germany in 2003 and spent what would have been his senior year in high school in Arizona in Germany. While he did attend classes in Germany, he had completed his credits for graduation in his home high school so that he was free to focus on what he could learn from his exchange. He took classes in Germany in which the focus was language to get a solid understanding of the communication.

The travel bug in him was not satisfied with just Germany. In 2005 he traveled to Korea, again very interested in submersion in the language, and later spent many months in Central America. He told us of being robbed in Guatemala and learning to adapt to the good and bad of a new country.

He introduced us to a Rotary Program we don't have in our area, Rotex. This program connects exchange students with others who have experienced Rotary Exchange. While mostly social and supportive, the Rotex Adam experienced traveled around the country giving him an even broader exchange experience.

I'm sure more adventures await you, Adam. Thanks for sharing.

Speaking of sharing fellowship, Joe, if we promise not to take your picture with the hog snoot, will you come back again?

Steve, remember we meet EVERY week, on Thursday, and almost always at the Abbey Inn.

Next week: Amberlyn Chocolate! If you don't know about Amberlyn, you need to be informed. :-)

See you next Thursday!
Marla Shelby-Drabner, President

Christmas in February

This past Thursday the 676th all time meeting of the Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise and the 30th of this year was an opportunity for our club to offer needed equipment to the incredible valuable Washington County Search and Rescue Service.