In conjunction with Kelsey Collier-Wise's presentation/update on the United Way of Vermillion, the club had the opportunity to do the ceremonial presentation of $500 for Feeding Vermillion's Holiday food program. The Vermillion Club received a $250 "Food for the Holidays" grant from the District which was then matched by our club. In the photo, club president Kevin O' Kelley presents the check to Emmanuel Ankinwande, Feeding Vermillion Operations Director, and Kelsey Collier-Wise, Executive Director of the United Way of Vermillion.
Vermillion Rotary Helps with Food for the Holidays
Thank you to the members of the Vermillion City Council who joined the Vermillion Rotary for our November 29 meeting. Katherine Price, representing the Central Ward, Mayor Jon Cole, Julia Hellwege, Northeast Ward, and Lindsey Jennewein, Central Ward provided an interesting recap of the Council's recent activities, offered insights into upcoming issues and answered questions from Rotarians. To hear about all of the topics please click on the image below to watch the presentation on the Vermillion Rotary Youtube channel.
Vermillion City Council Updates the Vermillion Rotary
Thank you Evelyn Schlenker, Secretary of the Clay County Historic Preservation Commission, for the presentation of the 2023 preservation awards at the November 15 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club. Our thanks also to Commission Chair Tim Schreiner, Vice-Chair Jim Wilson, Treasurer Patrick Morrison, and Board member Jim Stone for joining us. Click on the image below to watch the presentation and see some of the amazing historic preservation work being done in Clay County, SD.
Thank you, Roberta Sanches de Souza Camergo, for your wonderful presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club. This Rotary Youth Exchange presentation introduced our members to her home nation of Brazil. We were so happy to hear that you have enjoyed the first couple of months of your Rotary Youth Exchange to Vermillion, SD, USA, and we are so happy that we could sponsor your RYE. To watch her presentation, please click on the image below.
RyLeigh Christopherson and Lindsey Grabowska, 2023-24 captains of the USD Mock Trial team, gave the Vermillion Rotary Club a primer about what mock trial is, some of the recent trial topics, the structure of a trial, how the events are scored, and the tournaments in which they compete. Their description provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at this collegiate competition. To view the presentation on the club's Youtube channel, simply click on the image below.
Our thanks to Carson Walker for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club on October 18 to talk about South Dakota News Watch and challenges facing journalism in the US. Click on the link below to view his presentation on the club's Youtube channel. You can find out more about SD News Watch by visiting their website: www.SouthDakotaNewsWatch.org or their Facebook page.
Walker Discusses SD News Watch and State of Journalism
World Polio Day is on October 24, and Rotary International President Gordon McInally has a message for all Rotarians. Working with partners, Rotary has reduced wild polio cases to just a few this year, but even one is too many. Now is the time to help finally end the threat of Polio from the Earth.
Rotary President McInally's World Polio Day Message
Thank you, Leslie Morrow of the Alzheimer's Association South Dakota, for this informative presentation of the various types of dementia, warning signs, new treatments and the services provided by your organization. If you would like to view the presentation on the club's Youtube channel, simply click on the image below.
Alzheimer's Warning Signs and Treatments Discussed
Thank you, Dr. Damon Alvey, for joining the Vermillion Rotary and providing this information filled update on the construction of Vermillion's new elementary school scheduled to open in August of 2024. To view his presentation simply click on the image below to be redirected to the club's Youtube channel.
Charlotte Nelson, Chief Growth Officer for Goodwill of the Great Plains, was the speaker at the September 27, Vermillion Rotary meeting. Nelson provided an overview of the new store that is scheduled to open in Vermillion during the first quarter of 2024. She also provided background information on Goodwill of the Great Plains and the services that they provide to the community in which they operate. You can learn more about the Goodwill of the Great Plains by visiting their website - www.goodwillgreatplains.org. If you are interested in viewing her presentation, you can do on the club's Youtube channel by CLICKING HERE or by clicking on the image below to play the video on this page.
Our thanks to the Vermillion Plain Talk for this wonderful article by Sarah Wetzel. We appreciate the thorough coverage of such an important topic - making the playground at the new elementary school accessible for all children. You can read the article on the Plain Talk site by clicking on the image below.
Dwight Vaught, Director of the National Music Museum (NMM), joined the Vermillion Rotary Meeting Sept. 20, 2023, for a wonderful presentation about the National Music Museum. The recently re-opened and expanded museum is a gem in Vermillion and one of the top three collections of musical instruments in the world. We also appreciate Dr. Darryl Martin, Conservator and Coordinator of Graduate Studies at the NMM, for coming to give us a glimpse of the Grafton Saxophone, one of the 14,000+ instruments in their collection. Click on the image below to view the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel.
It was wonderful spending time with the Australian GSE team on Friday, Sept. 15. They toured the Howe Exhibit in USD's Day Gallery, heard from students and faculty about the Native American programs at USD and the importance of Native art, and had a chance to chat with Vermillion Rotarians and USD faculty, staff and students. We look forward to spending more time with them during the Rotary District 5610 Conference.
Rotary GSE Team Learns about Native Programs at USD
Thank you, Coach Nielson, for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club on September 13 and providing a wonderful preview of the 2023 season. It was great to hear more about our highly competitive conference as well as some of the major changes going on in collegiate football. Click on the image below to watch the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel.
USD Football Head Coach, Bob Nielson, 2023 Season Preview
USD Head Volleyball Coach, Leanne Williamson, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club on September 8 and gave an excellent preview of this year's team and what we might all see in the upcoming months. Thank you for your wonderful talk and we look forward to watching the 'Yotes this season. To watch the presentation on the club's Youtube channel, simply click on the image below.
Leanne Williamson previews USD Volleball for 23-24
Daniel Mourlam, president of the Board of Directors for the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club on August 20, 2023 to provide an overview of the operations of the VPSF and to present the newest initiative for the organization - raising funds to provide the additional funds for accessible playground equipment at the new elementary school that will open in August of 2024. To view the presentation click on the image below or CLICK HERE to visit the club Youtube channel.
Vermillion Public Schools Foundation Supports our Schools
Wonderful program today as we officially welcomed many new members who have joined us this year. In addition to information about Rotary, they received their badges, a membership certificate, a packet of new member information and their 4-way test plaques. Congratulations to:
Front Row: Anna Nelson, Crystal Brady and Matt Callahan.
Back Row: Ray Ring, Quinn Cannon, MD., Emmanuel Akinwande and Bryant Jackson.
New members unable to attend today: Ionela Georgescu, Veronica Schmidt and Elizabeth Smith.
Hundreds of rubber ducks raced at Vermillion's Prentice Plunge to raise funds for Vermillion projects supported by the Vermillion Rotary Club. Our thanks to all of the duck sponsors for their support of these worthwhile programs and to the staff of Prentis Plunge and Vermillion Parks and Recreation Department who supported this project. The video tries to capture some of the action. You can watch the video below or on the Club's Youtube channel at: https://youtu.be/U3rLOU66Q38
Vermillion Rotary Duck Race Raises Funds for Local Projects
Thank you, Dr. Mike Card, for your presentation to discuss one initiated measure and several new laws that took effect on July 1. To hear Dr. Card's presentation, click on the image below to be directed to the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel.
Rich Burns was kind enough to start his club presentations with a trip to Vermillion on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Governor Burns outlined several perspectives on the purpose of the Rotary Districts. He also discussed his goals for the upcoming year as well as the status of the District. Gov. Burns also highlighted many of the events and speakers in the upcoming District Conference in Yankton. To view his informative presentation you can click on the image below or CLICK HERE to view it on the club's Youtube page.
Thank you, Dr. David Burrow for your fascinating look at Vermillion in the leading up to, during and immediately after prohibition. Some of the materials were pulled from an Honors Seminar taught by Dr. Burrow. To access the the podcasts created by the class, you can go to: https://red.library.usd.edu/honors_projects/1/ . If you would like to see Dr. Burrow's presentation on the club's Youtube channel, go to: https://youtube.com/live/9NgXaRhILC0 or simply click on the image below.
Dr. David Burrow Discusses Vermillion During Prohibition
Alan Wittmuss of the South Dakota Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources offered tremendous insights into the programs of the SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, especially those related the monitoring of water sources in the state. To watch his presentation on the Vermillion Rotary Youtube channel, simply click on the image below.
Thank you to the cast members of "Newsies" who performed for the Vermillion Rotary Club today. The video below provides a short clip from one number in this award-winning musical. To see the full production join the Vermillion Community Theatre for a performance on July 7-10. Tickets are on sale now at several locations in Vermillion, but can also be purchased on the website: http://vermillioncommunitytheatre.org/ The Vermillion Rotary is a proud supporter of the VCT. To watch this promotional video on the Club's YouTube channel CLICK HERE or on the image below.
As one of his last official acts as the 2022-23 Vermillion Rotary Club President, Rich Holland presents the membership badge to Anna Nelson, Vermillion Rotary's newest member. Thank you for joining us Anna, and we look forward to seeing you at future Rotary events.
Dr. Quinn Cannon of Sanford Health Vermillion provided an interesting presentation on obstetrics care in rural areas. The presentation included a quick personal history, a look at the history of rural OB care, as well as recent trends.
President-elect, Kevin O'Kelley, had the honor of presenting his member badge to Vermillion Rotary Club's newest member, Emmanuel Akinwande. Thank you for joining the club, and we look forward to seeing you at future club events.
Thank you, Dr. Kurt Hackemer, Provost at USD, for your wonderful presentation in honor of Memorial Day, 2023. In this presentation, Dr. Hackemer discusses the war experiences of two Vermillion men. Dr. Hackemer also has a fascinating discussion of the impact of the Civil War on development in the Dakota Territory. To watch his presentation on the Vermillion Rotary Club's YouTube channel, simply click on the image below.
Congratulations to all of the 2023 graduates of Vermillion High School! We want to offer additional congratulations to the three graduating VHS seniors to receive one of our scholarships for next year. We wish you all the best in your academic pursuits!
To help celebrate National Library Week, the Vermillion Rotary Club invited the Edith B. Siegrist Library Director, Daniel Burniston, to join us for the April 26 meeting. You can learn more about all of the wonderful activities happening at the library by watching the video of his presentation on the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel. Simply click on the image below to be taken to the presentation.
On Friday, April 21, Vermillion Rotarians and staff from the Vermillion Medical Clinic joined to present new bike helmets to all second-grade students in Vermillion and to provide interesting programs about cycling, types of bicycles and riding safely.
Rotary and Vermillion Medical Clinic Donate Helmets
Savannah Wise, the director of the Vermillion Boys & Girls Club, joined the Vermillion Rotary on April 19, 2023 to give us an update on the club's activities. She discussed the club's programs, the values they work into their programs, as well as their tutoring program and work with the Clay County Teen Court, their summer program and opportunities to volunteer. To watch the video of her presentation, simply click on the image below.
Vermillion Rotary President, Rich Holland presents her membership pin to our newest member, Betty Smith. Welcome to the Vermillion Rotary Club! We also wish to thank Betty, and her fellow commissioners, Travis Mockler and Geoffrey Gray-Lobe for their informative presentation about the status of Clay County, SD.
Rotary Welcomes Betty Smith and Hears from Commissioners
Since 2017, the Vermillion Rotary Club has helped Kindergarten students in Vermillion SD celebrate Read Across America Day by providing a free book for each student. We hope that this small gesture will help to ignite a love of reading. We wish to thank all of the Kindergarten teachers, the principals and the librarians at Austin Elementary School and St. Agnes for making this event possible. Click on the link below to see photos from the 2023 book giveaway, and if you turn on the sound, you'll hear a reading of a classic children's book.
Our thanks to Dan Van Peursem for his wonderful presentation that we should call Beekeeping 101. It was wonderful learning more about this fascinating hobby. Click on the image below to view the presentation on the Vermillion Rotary Club YouTube channel.
Our thanks to Vermillion Police Chief Crystal Brady for her presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club on February 15. We enjoyed the peek behind the curtains to see the operations of the Vermillion Police Department. If you would like to learn more about our local police department, Chief Brady invites you to take a look at their website.
Chief Brady Discusses the Vermillion Police Department
The Vermillion Rotary Club is pleased to offer three, $1,000 scholarships for 2023 Vermillion High School graduates. Please help us to spread the word about these scholarships for Vermillion High School 2023 graduates! The application can be downloaded in the download section in the lower-right corner of this website or directly with this link: https://tinyurl.com/Rotary-2023-App
Vermillion Rotary Offers Three VHS 2023 Scholarships
At the February 1 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, club president, Rich Holland accepts on behalf of the club the Investor Level membership certificate from Jim Peterson, President & CEO of the Vermillion Chamber & Development Company. Thank you for your presentation about the VCDC, Jim, and our thanks for the other VCDC staff who joined us today - Brittany DeJong, Melissa Eberts, and Sam Craig.
At last week's Vermillion Rotary Club meeting, President Rich Holland presented a membership pin to our newest member, Crystal Brady. Welcome to the Club, Crystal! We look forward to seeing you at future meetings.
2023-24 Rotary International President Gordon R. McInally explained the Rotary Theme for 2023-2024 at the Rotary International Assembly 2023 in Orlando. You can see a three-minute video of McInally explaining the theme by clicking on the image below or by going to https://youtu.be/eF1-Gfz5Ipk Find out more and download logos for this theme at: https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/office-president/presidential-theme
The Vermillion Rotary Club was treated to a wonderful selection of Holiday songs performed by the Vermillion High School Choir during our annual holiday luncheon. After the choir's performance, Club President, Rich Holland, presented a check from the club to support the music program at VHS. Accepting the check is Trisha Fisher, VHS Choir Director and vocal music teacher.
Thank you USD head WBB coach Kayla Karius for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club for our December 7 meeting. We enjoyed hearing more about the whirlwind ride you have been on since being named the head coach in April of this year. If you would like to view the video of her presentation on the Club's YouTube channel you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Kayla Karius Previews USD Women's Basketball Season
At the November 9 meeting, Rotarian Tim Schorn moderates a discussion of the November 2022 midterm election results with two other USD Political Science professors - Shane Nordyke and Ed Gerrish. Professor Nordyke, Coordinator of the Chiesman Center for Democracy at USD, also reports the results of the Kids Vote South Dakota. To view the presentation on the Club's Youtube Channel, please CLICK HERE or on the image below.
November 22 Election Recap and Kids Vote South Dakota
In 2019, the Vermillion Rotary Club presented a $13,500 check to the Patriots Plaza Committee at USD to make a significant contribution to the Plaza project. On Veterans Day we remember the service and sacrifices of those who have served in the armed services of the United States. We do this by sharing the USD Veterans Day message from 2021 that was filmed at the Patriots Plaza. We also offer our special thanks for Professor Greg Huckabee, veteran, Rotarian, and a driving force behind the Patriots Plaza project.
Thank You to All Who have or are Currently Serving
The Vermillion, Rotary Club welcomed USD's new men's basketball coach, Eric Peterson, to our November 2, 2022 meeting in the Al Neuharth Media Center. Peterson, who was named the head coach in March, treated the club to a wonderful preview of the upcoming season, including players to watch and schedule previews. Click on the link below to watch the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel.
Eric Peterson Previews USD Men's Basketball Season
October 24 is World Polio Day. While Rotary International and many other groups are working every day to eradicate polio from the planet, this one day is set aside to recognize the importance of the fight. You can watch an update on polio eradication by clicking on the image below or learn more about the fight to end polio at www.endpolionow.org
Three legendary Rotarians and supporters of the 'Yotes (L-R, Dave Lorenz, Ted Muenster and Kathy Chandler) and Club VP Melissa Berninger in the staging area getting ready to hand out candy and greet MANY 'Yote fans during the 22 Dakota Days Parade. Not pictured Dan Van Peursem, driver and trailer wrangler, and Chuck Lubbers, banner designer and candy distribution technician. :-)
Vermillion Rotary Participates in Dakota Days Parade
Executive Director, Kelsey Collier-Wise, provides an informative update on the many ways that the United Way of Vermillion helps the community. In addition to the 29 partner organizations that receive funding, UW-Vermillion operates the Community Connections Center (CCC), "a one-stop-shop resource center that addresses the needs of community members by coordinating the efforts of local organizations." Collier-Wise discusses the challenges, successes and future directions for UW Vermillion. Click on the image below to watch this presentation on the Vermillion Rotary Youtube channel.
United Way of Vermillion Unites People and Resources
Vermillion Public School Superintendent, Dr. Damon Alvey, was the guest for the October 5, 2022 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club. Thank you, Dr. Alvey, for giving us a snapshot of the district's numbers, a breakdown of the district's finances, and an explanation of challenges faced by the district. If you would like to see the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel, please CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Our thanks to Dr. Mark Yockey, Interim Dean of the Beacom School of Business, for his wonderful presentation on the state of the Beacom School. We appreciate the update on the development of new majors, specializations, certificates, etc., as well as student experiential opportunities, such as Coyote Business Consulting. The School's strong enrollment is a testament to the hard work of a wonderful faculty. If you would like to see Dr. Yockey's presentation please click on the image below to be directed to the club's Youtube page.
Mark Yockey Presents the State of Beacom School of Business
Congratulations, Kevin O'Kelley, Vermillion Rotary's President-Elect, who was named the Rotarian of Distinction for Area 7 of Rotary District 5610. The award was announced at the recent District Conference and Celebration held in Sioux City.
Thank you, Steve Waller, for your presentation on the proposed new public safety center for Vermillion and Clay County. If you would like to view his presentation on the Rotary Club's YouTube channel, you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
University of South Dakota Coyotes Head Football Coach, Bob Nielson, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club on August 31. Thank you for providing a preview of the 2022 game schedule and the challenging early schedule against nationally-ranked teams. Coach Nielson then provided an interesting discussion of some major issues impacting collegiate athletics - 1) the transfer portal, 2) NIL - Name, Image and Likeness, and 3) conference realignment. Your presentation was a fascinating look at the changes having such an impact on college athletics. You can watch Nielson's presentation on the Club's Youtube channel by CLICKING HERE or on the image below.
Proceeds from the Rotary duck shoot were presented by Vermillion Rotary President Rich Holland and President-elect Kevin O'Kelley (center) to Andy Schulz (left) and Dr. Jacob Quail (right), members of the Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion Board of Directors.
Rotary Presents Duck Shoot Proceeds to Boys & Girls Club
The Vermillion Rotary Club will have a "Duck Shoot" activity at the Clay County fair, tomorrow through Saturday (August 11-13). Use an air cannon to launch a rubber duck and see if you can get it back into its pond! Please join us, have some fun and help support the new Boys & Girls Club of Vermillion. Join us at the Clay County Fair!
Thank you to all the individuals who sponsored ducks for the Vermillion Rotary Club annual duck race! Through your sponsorship we raised nearly $3,000 to support projects in Vermillion. Enjoy this video that shows some of the highlights of the race at Prentis Plunge on Sunday, August 7, including the sponsors of the first-, second- and third-place duck. You can view the video by clicking on the image below or CLICK HERE to view it on the Club's Youtube channel.
Dwight Vaught, Director of the National Music Museum (NMM) (https://www.nmmusd.org/), spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club on July 20. Vaught highlighted the many recent developments since 2018 when the new conservation building and the expansion of the museum began. This discussion also noted that next year the NMM will be celebrating its 50-year anniversary. Click on the image below to go to the Club's Youtube channel to enjoy this wonderful insight into the what has been happening the last few years and a description of what will be happening in the next year.
At the July 13 meeting, 2022-23 club President, Rich Holland, shared his goals for the upcoming rotary year. Click on the link below to watch his presentation on the club's Youtube channel.
Club President Holland Discusses Club's 2022-23 goals
Our thanks to 2022-23 Rotary 5610 District Governor, John Schneider, for presenting to the Vermillion Rotary Club on July 6, 2022 to tell us more about his background and his goals for his year as District Governor. If you would like to watch is wonderful message for the upcoming year, simply click on the image below to view it on the Club's Youtube page or go to https://youtu.be/cuyALmT7te8?t=267.
Rotary District 5610 Governor Outlines Goals for 22-23
Joni Livingston, VP of communications and member services at Missouri River Energy Services (MRES), provides a fascinating look at the realities of public power. MRES is a not-for-profit energy cooperative (Joint Action Agency) with 61 members in four states that provides power supply and energy services. Livingston discusses the operations of MRES, but also compares their organization or national statistics to the city of Vermillion. Vermillion's power uses a higher percentage from renewable sources. To view the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel, CLICK HERE or in the image below.
Join the Vermillion Rotary Club for a Noon meeting on July 6 to hear from the 2022-23 Rotary District 5610 Governor, John Schneider. We will also be welcoming Rich Holland as the 2022-23 Club President.
Rotary District 5610 Governor to Speak in Vermillion
Vermillion Rotarian, Craig Thompson, offers advice on decluttering our lives, including preparing/saving important documents, while decluttering your home and life. To watch the the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel CLICK HERE or on the image below.
We often spend too little time reflecting on our own club's activities. On June 8, Nick Oyen, Vermillion Rotary President for 2021-22, offered a wonderful review of the club's activities this year as well as a glimpse at what we might expect for next year. Click on the image below to watch the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel.
Thank you, Steve Harrington, for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club on May 25, 2022, to tell us more about the upcoming Rotary District 5610 Conference. We also enjoyed your message about Rotarians making a difference in the world through Rotarians who are educated, motivated and inspired. Click on the image below to view his presentation on the Club's Youtube channel.
Harrington brings his inspirational message to Vermillion
Vermillion Rotary President, Nick Oyen, took the opportunity to formally welcome two new Rotarians (Deb Christensen and Bruce Stofft) and to offer the Club's thanks and best wishes to Don Harris as he will retire from USD at the end of the week. Thank you for the photos, Kathleen Chandler.
Superintendent Curt Dimmick of the Missouri National Recreational River joined the Vermillion Rotary Club on May 18, 2022. Dimmick discussed the creation of the MNRR, the purpose for its creation, some of the challenges currently faced, and highlighted all the wonders offered to the public. To view his presentation you can simply click on the image below or CLICK HERE to be redirected to the video on the Club's YouTube channel.
Missouri National Recreational River Offers Many Benefits
Jim Goblirsch, Director of the Vermillion Parks and Recreation Department, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club on May 4 to provide an update of Department's activities and challenges for the upcoming summer season. To view his presentation on the Vermillion Rotary Youtube channel, simply click on the link below or go to: https://youtu.be/5Hk8eg5su7A
Vermillion Parks & Recreation has Successes and Challenges
Samantha OKelley, a member of the Board of Directors of Greening Vermillion, joined the Vermillion Rotary to highlight Greening Vermillion's activities, especially events associated with Earth Week. OKelley discusses the three largest projects of the club, adopt-a-drain, the recycling guide, and Earth Days events. Find out more at GreeningVermillion.org, and/or watch the presentation by clicking on the image below.
Dr. Amy Schweinle, Dean of the University of South Dakota School of Education, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club to update the club us on recent developments in the School. The wide variety of programs in the school and awards received by the faculty and students were featured in the presentation. To view the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel, please CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Patrick Morrison, Assoc. Director, University of South Dakota's International Office, introduces our Pakistani student speakers and offers a great explanation of the Global UGRAD-Pakistan program that has brought students from Pakistan to USD since 2018. Two Pakistani students studying at the University of South Dakota were kind enough to share information on their homeland with the members of the Vermillion Rotary Club on April 6. Thank you for informative and entertaining presentation. We wish you both all the best in your studies. You can watch their presentation on the Club's YouTube channel by clicking HERE or on the image below.
Pakistani Students Provide a Great Country Profile
Friends and family of Vermillion High School 2022 graduates, be sure to tell your graduate to apply for one of two, $1,000 scholarships being given by the Vermillion Rotary Club. By clicking on the image below, they can go to the Club's website to download the application or use this link to go directly to the download: tinyurl.com/2022-VHS-Scholarship
For the sixth year, the Vermillion Rotary Club has given free books to all the kindergarten students in Vermillion to help celebrate Read Across America Day and help to ignite a love of reading. Enjoy these wonderful photos taken by Lisa J Swanson. We also want to thank the teachers and staff at Austin Elementary and St. Agnes Catholic Church & School. To see a video of some of the pictures from the book distribution, you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Students Receive Books for Read Across America Day
Dr. Damon Alvey, Vermillion Public School Superintendent, joined the Vermillion Rotary to provide his annual report on the Vermillion Public School District. You can learn more about the District's enrollments, finances, student success, etc. by watching the video on the Club's Youtube channel. https://youtu.be/e5bPvOO8l_o
Thea Ryan, Director at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at USD/Community College for Sioux Falls, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club at the February 9, 2022 meeting to give us a preview of the OLLI courses being offered in the Spring term starting in March. To see a recording of Leah's presentation on the Club's Youtube channel, you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Thea Ryan Discusses Upcoming OLLI-SD Course Offerings
Three members of the Vermillion, SD, City Council, Katherine Price, Steve Ward (Council Vice President), and Rich Holland (Council President and Rotarian), and Kelsey Collier-Wise, Mayor and Rotarian, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club on February 2, 2022. The group provided an extensive review of accomplishments and concerns over the last few years and also answered questions from the club. To see the Council's update on the Club's Youtube channel click on the image below or CLICK HERE.
Jeanelle Lust joined the Vermillion Rotary club on Jan 26, 2022, to discuss Ranked Choice Voting. It's an interesting method of voting that eliminates the need for run-off elections when no one candidate receives a majority of the votes. Watch the video below or on the Club's Youtube channel to learn more about this innovation to voting that is being used in states and localities around the US. More information can be found at Ranked Choice South Dakota's website www.rankedchoicesd.org, or their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SD4RCV/
Rotary District 5610's Shelterbox program coordinator, and recently-named Assistant Governor, Tim Schorn, took some time on January 19 to help Vermillion Rotarians learn more about the Shelterbox program. If you would like to read more on the partnership you can go to www.rotary.org/en/shelterbox-and-rotary-help-disasters. You can view his presentation on the Club's Youtube channel by CLICKING HERE or by clicking on the image below.
After the VHS choir performance at our holiday gathering, Vermillion Rotary President Nick Oyen presented a check to Trisha Fisher and the Choir to help with their fundraising for a spring 2022 trip to perform at Disneyworld. If you would like to help support their efforts, you can learn more and make donations by contacting the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation on their Facebook page or their website (https://vermillionpsf.org/).
Thank you, Dawn Plitzuweit, USD women's basketball head coach, for your wonderful presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club. We appreciate your insight into the season thus far and a look at what is to come. To view her presentation on the Vermillion Rotary Youtube channel, simply click on the image below.
Members of the Clay County Historic Preservation Commission present their awards for historic preservation in the County at the November 17, 2021 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club. Our thanks to the Commission for sharing the ceremony with our club and our congratulations to all of the award recipients:
Richard & Sally Abild - Farmer's Daughter's Sewing Museum
Carson & Courtney Merkwan - Main Street Inn, 221 East Main
Donna & Pat Gross - Restoration of multiple buildings
Jim Stone - Special recognition for historic preservation
Please click on the image below to be taken to the Vermillion Rotary Youtube channel and see the video of the award presentation.
The Vermillion Rotary Club has lost another beloved member. On the morning of November 6, Sylvester “Cliff” Clifford passed away at his home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on November 12 at the First United Methodist Church in Vermillion.
Cliff served as a professor in the Speech and Hearing Department (now Communication Disorders Department) at the University of South Dakota and worked hard to improve the services provided to all South Dakotans. Cliff brought that desire to serve to his four decades of membership in Rotary. Cliff joined the Vermillion Club in 1970 and was an active member throughout that time, including attending a meeting just 10 days before his passing. Cliff contributed to the Rotary Club’s many activities over the years and served as President of the club in 1986.
As is noted in his obituary, “Cliff always worked to improve the lives of those around him in large and small ways with his loving heart and generous spirit.” Whether he was working to improve speech and hearing services in the region, or supporting his local church, the Vermillion United Way, and Rotary Club, Cliff was always the epitome of the Rotary motto, Service Above Self. We will miss seeing you, Cliff.
Our thanks to Mark Sternhagen for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club today to discuss his life with Polio. Your story helped to personalize Rotary International's drive to make Polio only the second disease to be eliminated from the planet. Mark is the author of "Normal for Me." If you would like to view his presentation on the club's Youtube channel, please click on the image below. #EndPolioNow
The Vermillion Rotary Club lost one of our most beloved members, Mary Merrigan, on October 11, as Mary’s courageous battle with cancer took from us a wonderful friend. We wish to thank Nick and all of her family for sharing her with us.
Mary had been an active club member for years and was always one of the first to step forward when we called for help. Mary helped arrange programs for meetings and introduced many of us to the Vermillion Rotary Club.
Mary was well known for her abilities to prepare a wonderful event. She used those abilities in service to the club when she was a co-conference planner for the 2018 District Conference in Vermillion. That conference was the largest in the history of the District, was very well received by all who attended, raised thousands of dollars for local and international charities, and was evidence of how Mary epitomized the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self”.
One day in July, of 1932, a Rotarian named Herbert J. Taylor, sat at his desk and prayed that God would give him a simple guide to help us to think, speak and do that which was right. He picked up a white card and wrote down what we Rotarians call The Four Way Test of the things we think, say and do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it Build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Rotarians around the world begin or end each meeting by reciting this to remind us all to live by these words in our daily, business and personal relations. We believe Mary lived by this 4-Way Test every day of her life, and because of that, we were all fortunate to have crossed her path during her lifetime.
Modern agricultural practices are dramatically different than they were just a decade or two ago. On October 13, Denton Stephens of C&B Operations gave the Vermillion Rotary Club a glimpse into the world of precision agriculture. To watch a video of his presentation on the Club's YouTube channel, please CLICK HERE on the image below.
Jay Trobec, Chief Meteorologist for KELOLAND News, was the speaker at the October 6 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club. Dr. Trobec provided a fascinating look at the "unique" weather we have in South Dakota. To view his presentation, simply click on the image below. https://youtu.be/Lhi7vRqdZY0
Vermillion Rotarians supporting South Dakota Football during the USD Dakota Days parade on October 2! We distributed enough candy to keep the kids of all ages happy for a while. Thank you, Nick, Rachel, Kevin, Dan, Mark and Bart for making it such a wonderful day. #GoYotes#DakotaDays#livevermillion
University of South Dakota President, Sheila Gestring, provides a summary of the challenges faced by USD in recent years. President Gestring goes on to note that despite these challenges the University continues to see improvements in student retention and graduation rates while still being an affordable option. The success of many academic programs is highlighted, as was a list of national rankings and student awards. To view her presentation click on the image below or CLICK HERE to go the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel.
USD President Gestring Discusses Challenges and Successes
Vermillion City Engineer, Jose Dominguez, provides a wonderful update on the streetscape project in Downtown Vermillion. Find out more about how city staff have worked to overcome supply shortages and staffing issues to keep the project moving forward. To watch the presentation on the Vermillion Rotary Club's YouTube channel, simply click on the image below.
Jose Dominguez Updates Rotary on Streetscape Project
USD Soccer Coach, Michael Thomas, provides fascinating insight into the recruiting process for USD Soccer as well as a candid look at the off-field activities of the players. Thank you so much for your presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club. If you would like to view the presentation, simply click on the image below.
USD Head Volleyball coach, Leanne Williamson, joined the Vermillion Rotary club to talk about how the team dealt with COVID-19 restrictions and uncertainty on their way to an NCAA appearance. She also noted that nearly the entire team returns this year and that in preseason polls they are ranked number one in the conference. Thank you for the insight into the team, and we look forward to the season. To view her presentation, simply click on the image below.
On August 25, 2021, Vermillion Public School Superintendent, Damon Alvey, addressed the members of the Vermillion, SD Rotary club. His presentation gave a wonderful outline of the proposed new elementary school in Vermillion and answered the questions surrounding the project and what would become of the two older elementary schools. You can watch Alvey's presentation by CLICKING HERE to visit the Vermillion Rotary's Youtube channel or by clicking on the image below.
Supt. Damon Alvey Explains the Plans for a New School
On Saturday, August 21, the Vermillion Rotary raced nearly 600 rubber ducks in the Prentis Plunge water park. The ducks were shot down one of the large water slides and then with the help of the Prentis Park lifeguards were directed into the lazy river. The first three ducks to finish received a cash prize. The $2,700 raised will be used by Rotary Club to support projects in the Vermillion area. Our thanks to the Rotarians, friends and family and who showed up for the event. We also wish to thank the Vermillion Parks & Recreation Department, especially the staff of the Prentis Plunge, for all of their help.
Thank you, Rotary District 5610 District Governor, Doug Lind, for your wonderful presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club. We look forward to your leadership this year. If you would like to see DG Lind's presentation, you can CLICK HERE to go to the Club's Youtube channel, or simply click on the image below.
Rotary District Governor Outlines His Plans for 2021-22
Thank you, Rotary District 5610 District Governor, Doug Lind, for your visit to the Vermillion Rotary Club. While in town, DG Lind also presented Vermillion Rotary president, Nick Oyen, with a flag for the 21-22 theme, and had a gift for Rotarian, Patrick J. Morrison, who serves the District in the Youth Exchange Program, as well as meeting with the Vermillion Rotary Board of Directors.
It's always wonderful to hear from other groups in the community who have the same goal of providing service to help make our community a better place. Thank you, Katharina Wymar, Karen Davies and Dan Mourlam, for your wonderful presentation. If you are interested in seeing the video of the presentation by volunteers from the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation, please click on the image below.
Vermillion Public School Foundation Builds for the Future
Thank you, Matthew Callahan, Chief of the Vermillion Fire Department and EMS Service, for his wonderful presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club today. In addition to his presentation in the Neuharth Media Center, the Chief also brought along a little show-and-tell, Ladder truck #1. If you would like to see a recording of his presentation, please CLICK HERE or on the image below to watch it on the Club's YouTube page.
We thank Dr. Jill Tyler, President of AARP-SD, for your wonderful presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club on July 21. It was wonderful to hear more about the three areas in which the organization concentrates its work. We wish you all the best in this your sixth and final year as the volunteer state president. If you wish to watch her presentation on this page, please click on the image below. If you would rather watch it on the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel, CLICK HERE.
Thank you, Sherri Rodgers-Conti for the wonderful update on the operations of SE South Dakota CASA. You can hear about the program and the current operations by watching the presentation on the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel by clicking on the image below.
At today's meeting of the Vermillion Rotary, outgoing President, Kelsey Collier-Wise, was presented with three recognitions: 1) her Paul Harris pin and certificate; 2) a plaque recognizing her service; and 3) a round of applause from the Rotarians for leading the club through an incredibly difficult year! Below is a photo of Nick Oyen, incoming president, presenting the plaque to Kelsey.
Today, the Vermillion Rotary Club featured new public image materials, including banners, a backdrop, an inflatable Rotary logo, and a Rotary-branded bean bag game. We are looking forward to using these materials at meetings and community events in the future.
Vermillion Rotary Club Introduces New Public Image Materials
Congratulations to Vermillion Rotarian, Ted Muenster, who was presented with another Paul Harris pin at today's Vermillion Rotary Club meeting by Vermillion Rotary President, Kelsey Collier-Wise.
The Vermillion Rotary Club will be moving back to face-to-face meetings starting June 16! Here's a short video breaking the news. Be sure you turn up the sound. We hope to see all of you for our noon meeting on June 16.
We wish all Rotarians, their family and friends a wonderful Memorial Day. A special thank you to the members of our Rotary family who have served, or are currently serving the nation.
Thank you Rotarian Jennifer Rollins for your informative presentation to the club on the efforts by Rotary 5610 to respond to sex trafficking. We look forward to hearing more about the District's efforts in the future, as the next District Governor, Doug Lind, has announced his intention to continue the work on this critical issue. If you would like to view her presentation, simply click on the image below.
The Vermillion Rotary Club congratulates all the Vermillion High School 2021 graduates! We are proud of your accomplishment and wish you great success in your upcoming adventures. We offer special congratulations to these three 2021 VHS graduates who received scholarships from our club.
Vermillion Rotary Awards 3 Scholarships to VHS Grads
Thank you, Dr. Gabrielle Strouse for your interesting presentation on your research concerning the role of video chat in connections between grandparents and their young grandchildren. If you would like to view a recording of her online presentation, click on the image below.
Does Video Chat Connect Grandparents and Grandchildren?
Help Rotary raise awareness for polio eradication and the importance of vaccines during World Immunization Week, 24-30 April. Show your commitment by sharing some of these sample posts on social media. Here are a few of the reasons why it is important to remind everyone of the importance of vaccines, and they are ready for social media posting. You can get more ideas for social media posts, as well as videos and images by going to the helpful resource page on the Rotary International site or just Download the World Immunization Week Toolkit.
Because vaccines work, Rotary and partners have reduced polio cases by 99.9% worldwide since 1988. EndPolioNow won't stop until we end the disease for good. #VaccinesWork endpol.io/c2tr
The systems created to deliver polio vaccines to the hardest-to-reach areas of the world are helping #EndPolio workers find #COVID19 cases, trace contacts & provide info on how to slow the spread of the virus. #VaccinesWork endpol.io/c2tr
#VaccinesWork & are the best investments we can make in human health & potential. Thanks to the polio vaccine, the world’s seen a 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1988. @Rotary #EndPolio EndPolio.org
Help Raise Awarness During World Innoculation Week
Thank you, Kelly Wismer, Legislative Affairs Director of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, for your presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club on April 7. Broadband access in rural areas is a challenging issue and you helped us to understand many of the important issues related to the subject.
Thank you, Dr. Shane Nordyke, for your wonderful presentation on Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was the perfect subject for St. Patrick's Day. We enjoyed your photo-filled presentation and the wonderful answers to the questions afterward, including the response about the Blarney Stone.
If you would like to watch the presentation, simply click on the image below.
Shane Nordyke Discusses Ireland on St. Patrick's Day
Even a pandemic couldn't stop the Vermillion Rotary Club from its annual project to help the Kindergarten students of Vermillion to celebrate Read Across America Day on Dr. Suess' birthday, March 2. Enjoy this quick video to see the reactions of the students as they selected their book, wrote their names in it, and then took some time to read and share their new treasure. You'll also get to hear the story, the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, so share it with others! Thank you, Lisa Swanson for helping us coordinate this at Austin Elementary (and for the photos!) and Carrie Roerig for organizing the distribution at St. Agnes.
Vermillion Rotary Helps Kindergarten Students Celebrate Read Across America Day
Thank you, Dr. Marcus Long, President of Mount Marty in Yankton, for joining us for our meeting today. It was great to learn more about all the wonderful changes at Mount Marty.
Mount Marty President Updates the Vermillion Rotary
The District Governor and the members of the COVID-19 Disaster Response Grant Taskforce are happy to announce that thirteen District 5610 clubs have been awarded funds to help with projects in their communities to lessen the impact of COVID-19. The projects are a testament to the work of Rotary clubs in District 5610 to help our communities in these unprecedented times. Vermillion Rotary will partner with the Community Connections Center in Vermillion to provide diapers that are in high demand as well as gift cards to local restaurants that have been severely hit by the pandemic.
These funds were allocated from a $25,000 Disaster Response Grant awarded to District 5610 this fall. The funds will be used by the clubs between now and April 2021 after which the clubs will report on their efforts to lessen the impact of the pandemic.
Whether you attended the virtual conference in November and want to review some of the materials, or would like the chance to take a first look, most of the conference materials are now available online. Use any of the links below to select the materials you would like, or go to the District website list of all the links.
District 5610 Virtual Conference Video, Speaker PowerPoints, and Presentations now available on the District website.
This video captures some of the activity and excitment associated with the "Great Duck Shoot" in August of 2020. Thanks to the members of the Vermillion Rotary Club for staffing the event and buying a duck. Thank you to all the community members in Vermillion who helped us to launch the ducks.
Thank you Rotarian Damon Alvey for your wonderful update on the Vermillion School District.
The Vermillion Rotary Club is trying something new - live streaming on Facebook the programs for our meeting. By clicking on the link below you can watch Damon Alvey's presentation. Enjoy!
On Sunday, August 2, members of the Vermillion Rotary Club, members of the local community, friends and family converged on the DakotaDome for the great Rotary Duck Shoot. The fundraiser was a modification of last year's Great Duck Race at the Prentis Plunge, since the water park was not available this year. The real winner was the Patriots Plaza that is currently under construction on the USD campus. That project receives the the funds from the fundraiser, which when combined with the matching grant from Rotary District 5610 makes Rotary one of the largest donors to the project. You can CLICK HERE or on the image below to see Dave Lias' article about the event in the Vermillion Plain Talk.
July 1 marks the start of the new Rotary year - 2020-2021. This video is part of a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign to promote Rotary in the US. I have added the club identity to the video and also incorporated the 2020-21 theme - Rotary Opens Opportunities! Click on the image below to watch this short PSA or you can CLICK HERE to see it on our Club's YouTube channel.
Thank you, Debra Robertson, Director of USD's Student Counseling Services, for your wonderful presentation. It was great to learn more about your program's operations. If you were unable to join us for Vermillion Rotary's June 24 meeting (or if you want to relive the wondrous event again), you can CLICK HEREor on the image below. Debra Robertson's presentation begins 21 minutes into the meeting.
Thank you, Kevin Nelson, South Dakota Public Broadcasting's Director of the Early Learning Initiative, for joining us today. Your enthusiasm for the importance of early childhood learning is inspiring. If you would like to see the recording of the June 17, Vermillion Rotary meeting, including Mr. Nelson's presentation (starting 35 minutes into the meeting) click hereor on the image below.
Our thanks to John Battern for his wonderful presentation on the SWIM program that produces small devices that can create a chlorine solution to sanitize water. These devices are helping to reduce illness and death rates from diseases spread by unsanitary water sources. Some estimates say that 10,000 people a day are dying because of diseases related to water. You can view the video of the meeting by CLICKING HERE or on the image below. The presentation begins 24 minutes into the video.
Thank you, Senator Art Rusch, for providing a detailed South Dakota Legislative update, including an analysis of the budgeting process in South Dakota. This recording of the meeting also includes announcements of what is happening in the community and with Rotary projects. The recording of Vermillion Rotary Club's June 3 online meeting is now available and can be viewed by CLICKING HERE or on the image below.
Thank you, Tim Tracy, for your presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club on May 20. We appreciate the update on COVID-19 in our area, as well as your honest expression of what still concerns you about the future in the new way of doing business. If you would like to see a recording of the Zoom meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, including Tim's presentation, please CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Tim Tracy Provides a COVID-19 Update at May 20 Meeting
Nate Welch, Vermillion Rotarian and Executive Director of the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company, was recently interviewed by WNAX radio about how small town downtowns can survive in the current tough economic times. You can listen to segments of the interview by CLICKING HERE or on the image below.
Nate Welch Discusses Small Town Survival in Trying Times
The Vermillion Rotary Club is proud to offer three, $1,000 scholarships to 2020 Vermillion High School Graduates. No less than two scholarships will be awarded to students attending the University of South Dakota, but the third may be awarded to a student attending any college or university. Grades, school activities and community involvement will be considered. In addition, all applicants must submit a short (no less than 200-word) essay.
If you know of any VHS seniors who may be interested in applying, please direct them to the Club's website (www.vermillionrotaryclub.org) where they can find the description of the scholarship requirements and the application form. The scholarship application form is the first file in the "Download Files" section on the right side of the website. The form can also be downloaded byCLICKING HERE.
Because of the move to remote teaching at Vermillion High, the deadline has been extended to April 13. All applications should be sent to Kathy Chandler, and her contact information is on the application form.
As you may already know, on Saturday, March 7 the Vermillion Rotary Club lost one of our most beloved members, Steve Walters.
Steve epitomized the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self”. He had been a very active member of our club, since moving to Vermillion, as was evidenced by his receipt of the Paul Harris award. For the Vermillion Club he served as a vice-president, president elect, president and past president, in addition to serving on the Club’s Board of Directors. Most recently, Steve spearheaded the Club’s efforts to launch the Vermillion Rotary’s Great Duck Race as a fundraiser for community projects. The Club will miss his calm, quiet leadership, his concern for everyone in the community, and his smile that could light up any room.
One day in July, of 1932, a Rotarian named Herbert J. Taylor, sat at his desk and prayed that God would give him a simple guide to help us to think, speak and do that which was right. He picked up a white card and wrote down what we Rotarians call The Four Way Test of the things we think, say and do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it Build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Rotarians around the world begin or end each meeting by reciting this to remind us all to live by these words in our daily, business and personal relations. I believe Steve lived by this 4-Way Test every day of his life, and because of that, we were all fortunate to have crossed his path during his lifetime. We wish to thank Terry and all of Steve's family for sharing him with us. At our Club's March 4, 2020 meeting, the membership voted unanimously to fund a new annual scholarship in Steve's name that will be given to a Vermillion High School senior.
Thank you, Vermillion Assistant Manager, James Purdy, for speaking to the Vermillion Rotary club about the 2020 Census. If you would like to watch his presentation you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
In recognition of the national "Read Across America" day, the Vermillion SD Rotary Club works with the local elementary schools to provide a free book for all Kindergarten and Jr. Kindergarten students in the community. Students get to select a book from those provided to each classroom and the extra books are left for the teacher's use. These photos represent a few taken by Lisa Swanson (Thank you, Lisa), and they try to capture the joy of the event. We hope that receiving these books is another small step to developing a passion for reading. You can watch the video on the Club's Youtube channel by CLICKING HERE or on the image below.
Vermillion Rotary Gives Books to Kindergarten Students
Christine Lesher, USD TRIO Program Director, has just completed her first year leading the program. Today she was kind enough to share more about the TRIO program. We learned about the three programs that make up the TRIO program-Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, and Student Support Services, as well as how the program operates at USD. To view her presentation on our YouTube channel you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Thank you, USD President Sheila Gestring, for providing a wonderful overview of upcoming facilities changes on the USD campus, especially the new Health Sciences building. We also appreciate your willingness to provide your insight into current issues on campus and the state legislature. If you would like to hear President Gestring's presentation on the Rotary Club's YouTube channel, simply click on the image below.
Thank you, Susan Heggestad, for your very informative presentation on the past and future of the Vermillion Area Farmers Market. If you would like to view her presentation on the Vermillion Rotary YouTube Channel, you can Click Here or on the image below.
Our thanks to Vemillion School Superintendent, Damon Alvey, for his wonderful presentation updating the Vermillion Rotary Club on the local schools. If you would like to watch the presentation on the Club's YouTube channel, you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Thank you, Professor Tim Schorn, for updating the members of the Vermillion Rotary Club about the three critical "hot" topics in the Persian Gulf region - the three I's - Iran, Israel and ISIS.
To view Professor Shorn's presentation on the Club's YouTube channel you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
We were thrilled to see Vermillion Rotary's own, Steve Walters, at the meeting today. Steve has been courageously battling cancer and we are so happy that he could join us for our meeting. The wonderful folks at Hillside Church have worked with Steve and Terry Walters to set up a go fund me page. We encourage you to go to www.gofundme.com/f/steve-walters or click on the image below to make a donation.
Our thanks to Vermillion area legislators, Art Rusch and Ray Ring, for their preview of what they expect to be some of the major issues in the 2020 SD Legislative session. You can watch their presentation by clicking on the image below, or watch it on the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE.
Area Legislators Preview 2020 SD Legislative Session
Our thanks to Kevin Earlywine and Megan Wiedner for their wonderful presentation on the activities of the South Dakota Playhouse. It was great to hear about the history of the Playhouse and the how the support of its partners, including Custer State Park and the University of South Dakota, helped the Playhouse to come into existence and to thrive for nearly 75 years. It was also fascinating to learn more about the statewide education programs conducted by the playhouse. To view their presentation on the Club's YouTube page CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Did you know that it took 60 years for South Dakota to return to the population that it had before the start of the Great Depression? Did you know that in 1933, the lowest point of the Great Depression, that South Dakota ranked last in the nation in annual income? The US unemployment rate before the depression was 3.2%, but by 1933 it was 25%. These interesting facts and so much more were part of Dr. Ralph Brown's presentation on the Great Depression in South Dakota. Thank you for your presentation, Dr. Brown. To view Dr. Brown's presentation on the Club's YouTube channel, you can CLICK HERE or on the image below.
How South Dakota Suffered During the Great Depression
Saturday's University of South Dakota football game featured wonderful tributes to current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Vermillion Rotary Club's and Rotary District 5610's contribution to the new USD Veteran's Plaza was featured during the game.
Vermillion Rotary Club Donates to the USD Patriot's Plaza
At this week’s meeting we had the opportunity to hear from Dwight & Dari Carlblom, who worked in China for approximately 30 years. To view their interesting presentation, you can view it on the Club's YouTube page by CLICKING HERE or click on the image below.
Members for the Vermillion Rotary Club were honored to host the presentation of the annual historic preservation awards by the Clay County Historical Society. Our congratulations of the well-deserving recipients of the 2019 awards. Thank you for all that you do to preserve our history. You can watch the award presentation and the recipients' presentations on their preservation work on our Club's YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE or on the image below.
Thank you, Reyna Hernandez and USD Professor Amber Hansen, for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club at our October 9 meeting to update the club on the wonderful mural project in downtown Vermillion. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for the project. To view their presentation on the Club's YouTube channel, click HERE or on the image below.
Scott Pohlson, USD's VP of Enrollment, Marketing and University Relations, offered the members of the Vermillion Rotary Club an inside look into enrollment trends that are impacting USD, other regional universities and the nation's institutions of higher learning. Thank you for joining us today and sharing your insights into these trends that have so much impact on the major employer in Vermillion. If you wish to watch Scott Pohlson's presentation, simply click on the image below to go to the presentation on the Club's YouTube page.
Scott Pohlson Discusses University Enrollment Trends
Thank you, Dr. Shane Nordyke, Director, Chiesman Center and Government Research Bureau at USD, for your very informative presentation on the work of both of these organizations. We look forward to seeing what the future brings to the Chiesman Center after it's recent move to USD. If you would like to see her presentation, you can CLICK HERE or simply click on the image below.
Nordyke explains the GRB and Chiesman Center at USD
When District Governor Ina Winter envisioned her club visits, I doubt she thought she'd be posing with rubber ducks. The Vermillion Rotary Club took the opportunity of the DG's visit to celebrate raising $3,580 during the inaugural Vermillion Rotary Duck Race this past summer. The money was used to support Vermillion's Community Connection Center, and we look forward to supporting wonderful Vermillion organizations through this and other fundraising for many years to come.
Thank you, Rotary District 5610 Governor, Ina Winter, for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club on September 11. Your message helped to inspire our members, and we greatly appreciate your message of service to humanity. To view DG Winter's presentation you can CLICK HERE or on the image below to view it on the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel.
District Governor Visits the Vermillion Rotary Club
Our thanks to the USD Fine Arts Gallery Director, Amy Fill, for her informative presentation of all that USD Fine Arts has to offer the Vermillion Community. Click on the image below to view her presentation on the Club's YouTube channel.
USD Fine Arts Update from Gallery Director Amy Fill
To say that the National Music Museum is growing, is a drastic understatement. The NMM new director, Matt Collinsworth, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club today to outline the wonderful expansion project underway. His presentation made us all anxious for the grand reopening of the new, expanded museum. To learn more about what has already been done and what will be next, you can watch the presentation on the Club's Youtube channel by CLICKING HERE or on the image below.
Collinsworth Outlines the National Music Museum's Future
The Vermillion Rotary Club was fortunate to hear a wonderful presentation on the blizzard of 1888 from Tim Waltner, an award-winning journalist and former publisher of the Freeman Courier. Waltner's presentation set the larger context by describing the immigration patterns into the northern plains, especially into South Dakota. Following that he provides an intriguing step-by-step retelling of events leading up to, during, and following the January 12, 1888 blizzard that struck the upper plains. His focus during the presentation was on what happened to the students and teacher at a small country school approximately five miles east of Freeman. If you would like to view his presentation, you can CLICK HERE or on the image below to see the video on the club's YouTube channel.
Waltner Provides a Powerful Analysis of 1888 Blizzard
Members of the Vermillion Rotary Club were fortunate to hear more about the operations of the Southeast SD CASA organization. The staff and volunteers of this organization perform a vital service by serving as an objective advocate/voice for children in our area. Our thanks to Executive Director, Sherri Rodgers-Conti, for this wonderful update on the organization's activities. You can watch this fascinating presentation by clicking on the image below.
Our thanks to Lauren and Trevor Mandernach for joining us at our meeting today. They are pictured here with Rand Wergin, the club's past president and the president when Lauren was recruited. Lauren gave a short presentation on her experience. She thanked the club because the RYLA program forced her to step out of her comfort zone and to get a more complete understanding of what it means to be a leader.
Mandernach Shares Her Experiences in Rotary's RYLA Program
Thank you, Vermillion School District Superintendent, Damon Alvey, for your wonderful update on the District. We enjoyed hearing about initiatives, facilities upgrades and partnerships that are making Vermillion Public Schools stronger every day. You can watch the presentation by simply clicking on the image below, or watch it on the Club's Youtube channel by Clicking Here.
Damon Alvey Provides a Vermillion School District Update
Nate Welch, Executive Director of the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Company, provided a detailed discussion of the impact of the first and second "Vermillion NOW" campaign, and previewed the goals for Vermillion NOW-3. Fundraising for the third campaign is currently under way even as the community benefits from the programs established from the first and second campaign. If you would like to watch his presentation you can CLICK HEREor on the image below to see the presentation in the Club's YouTube channel.
Congratulations to Peyton Krogman, VHS student, who's short story was recently awarded a gold medal and an American Voices award at the national Scholastic Writing Award Competition in Carnegie Hall in NY City. The Vermillion Rotary Club's YouTube channel has Peyton's reading of her short story and it can be accessed by CLICKING HEREor on the image below.
The threats of scamming and public/school violence were discussed at today's meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club. Thank you Capt. Chad Passick for discussion the two issues and the proposed responses/programs of the Vermillion Police Department for both of these threats. If you would like to watch his presentation you can CLICK HERE or on the image below to see the presentation in the Club's YouTube channel.
At one point not that long ago, Sioux Falls, SD and Sioux City, IA had the same population and the cities had the same industries when founded. However, there are distinct differences today. In this presentation, Dr. Ralph Brown, Emeritus Professor of Economics from the University of South Dakota, outlines the economic realities of the two cities and how they have taken different paths from a pretty similar origin. Thank you for the fascinating presentation, Dr. Brown. The Vermillion Rotary Club's YouTube channel has Brown's presentation that can be accessed by CLICKING HEREor on the image below.
Thank you, Stephanie Rissler, for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club on June 12 to offer us a preview of the upcoming documentary, Vanished South Dakota. If you would like to view her presentation, CLICK HEREor on the image below to see her presentation on the Club's YouTube channel. If you would like to learn more about this project, you can go to the SD Public Broadcasting project page.
Rissler Previews SDPB Documentary "Vanished South Dakota"
Thank you Professor Victor Huber for joining the Vermillion Rotary Club on June 5 so that we could learn more about vaccinations, how they work and how important they are to public health.
Huber's presentation can be viewed on our YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE or on the image below.
Prof. Victor Huber Discusses Vaccinations and Public Health
Please join us on June 14 in Prentis Park for free hot dogs and hamburgers and the Rotary Duck Race. The Prentis Park concession stand will also be open for the purchase of other items. The BBQ begins at 6:00 p.m. and the races begin at 7:00. The ducks will run in three heats, with the top 20 ducks from each heat moving to the final championship race.
Ducks can be adopted for $5.00 each, with proceeds going to support the Community Connections Center. If you wish to volunteer, please contact Steve Walters at 402-320-047. Come and enjoy this inaugural duck race.
At the May 29 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary, Club president, Rand Wergin, offered a fascinating analysis of the retail sales numbers in the state of South Dakota. In addition to looking at the retail sales figures for the entire state, Wergin discussed the retail sales by type of sales (building materials, restaurants, etc.). The discussion talks about how different communities have greater sales in some sectors. Additionally, Wergin compares retail sales data for different communities based on their population to determine which communities are doing well compared to others.
To view Rand Wergin's presentation on the Club's YouTube Channel, please CLICK HERE or on the image below.
James Goblirsch, Director of Vermillion Parks and Recreation, provides a review of the numerous activities of the Department. Thank you for joining us and for providing a wonderful review of the Department's activities.
To see his presentation on the Club's YouTube page, CLICK HERE or on the image below.
Goblirsch Reviews Parks & Recreation Activities
Dr. Willis Sutliff, the Energizer bunny of the Polio Plus campaign in District 5610, receives a club banner from Rand Wergin, Vermillion Rotary Club President, after Dr. Sutliff's update to the Vermillion Club on Rotary's efforts to rid the world of Polio. To watch Dr. Sutliff's presentation to the club you can CLICK HERE or on the picture below to go to the Club's YouTube page.
Sutliff Presents an Update on Rotary's Polio Plus Campaign
Vermillion will host the South Dakota Special Olympics State Summer Games on May 16-18. Ross Dickenson spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club about the Summer Games and the opportunities that are available for individuals in the area to volunteer. Thank you for joining us, Ross. If you would like to view his presentation, you can visit the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel by CLICKING HERE or by clicking on the image below.
Rotarian Jim Perry pulled double-duty and offered the Club some information on the Clay County Fair Board. In addition to presenting the mission and recent accomplishments, Jim offered a preview of what is happening at this year's Clay County Fair. Thank you, Jim, for outlining opportunities for the members to be involved. To view his presentation, click on the image below to be redirected the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel or go to: https://youtu.be/BjFRZsp6mb8
Rotary District 5610 will again partner with Rotary District 5630 (in Nebraska) and will send up to 24 students to Rotary Youth Leadership Camp. The camp will be held JULY 17 to JULY 21 at the Nebraska State 4-H Campgrounds near Halsey, NE. Last year our district sent 8 campers to RYLA and each camper indicated it was one of the best experiences of their lives.
The link provided will give you and interested students a better appreciation for RYLA. https://greatplainsryla.org/ You are also welcome to contact either Dave Lorenz or Nicole Rawden for information and assistance. Their contact information is below.
We invite your club to nominate a student. You may nominate more than one student in rank order of preference. The first 24 District 5610 Rotary clubs to submit their nominee to District Governor Dave Lorenz will be rewarded with a reserved spot at RYLA camp. Alternates will be selected to attend as availability permits.
Students who are currently high school sophomores or juniors are eligible to attend. The cost of sending a camper is divided between the club and District 5610. Your club nominations must be received no later than April 15, 2019.
We also have the following volunteer opportunities available.
Julie Overgaard, Executive Director of South Dakota Public Broadcasting, provided an excellent review of the organization's strategic planning process for the future of SDPB. Included in the presentation was information on the new studios in Rapid City and Sioux Falls. The strategic planning activities were conducted to enable SDPB to step in and fill the gaps being created by the changing media landscape.
Overgaard Outlines Future Directions for SD Public Broadcasting
Thank you, Nick Oyen, for your informative presentation on the operations at SESDAC and the critical topic of disability awareness. Also, thank you for supporting the USD Womens basketball team with the red tie!
Nick Oyen Discusses SESDAC and Disability Awareness
Steve Ward, Director of USD's Academic and Career Preparation Center (ACPC), come by the Vermillion Rotary noon luncheon to present some interesting information about graduation rates of USD as compared to other regional institutions, as well as to discuss the retention efforts of the University. Thank you for the informative presentation, Steve. You can watch the presentation below, or find it on the Vermillion Rotary Club YouTube Channel.
Steve Ward Discusses USD Graduation Rates and Retention Efforts
Patrick Morrison, Assistant Director of International Student Services at USD, provides a wonderful report on the activities of his office and of his recent recruiting trip to Asia. Thank you, Rotarian Patrick, for sharing your experiences with the Vermillion Rotary Club.
Patrick Morrison Discusses USD's International Student Services
Michael Kruger, Dean of the USD College of Arts & Sciences, updated the Vermillion Rotary on the activities of the College, the largest in the University of South Dakota. Thank you, Dean Kruger for the interesting and informative presentation. You can watch Kruger's presentation using the embedded video below or by viewing it on the club's YouTube page.
USD College of Arts and Sciences Update from Dean Kruger
In January, the Vermillion Rotary Club recognized all the new members joining during the 2018 calendar year. While some were able to make it to a social in their honor earlier in the month, Kelsey Collier Wise (left) and Emily Merrigan are pictured below with Vermillion Rotary President, Rand Wergin, who presented them their membership certificates at the January 23 Rotary meeting. Our most sincere welcome to all the new Rotarians: Adam Chandler, Kelsey Collier-Wise, Michelle Cwach, Sheila Gestring, Matt Lavin, Emily Merrigan, Nick Oyen, Wess Pravecek and Dan Sundberg.
Clay County State's Treasurer, Alexis Tracy, gave an update of her office's activities in the last year. Topics include the teen court, young-adult diversion program for underage alcohol offenses, digitizing files, case statistics and more. Thank you for the wonderful update.
Tracy Discusses Clay County State's Attorney Office
Thank you Shannon Cole, Executive Director of the Vermillion Cultural Association, provides an excellent background on the Association, its history, recent activities, and goals for the future.
Thank you, Coach Dawn Plitzuweit, for sharing your birthday with the Vermillion Rotary Club. Your engaging story of the growth of the team on the court, in the classroom and in the future careers, offered a fascinating insight for our members. Click the image below to watch the presentation and to hear Rotarians sing "Happy Birthday" to the coach.
Coach Plitzuweit Profiles USD's Women's Basketball Program
The Evan Project is providing diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products and adult diapers for residents in and around Vermillion. Thank you, Ellie Pyles, for developing this important program that has helped so many in our community. We also want to thank you for joining us at our October 17 meeting to tell us about the Evan Project.
The Evan Project Provides Needed Items for Local Residents
Thank you, USD Head Volleyball Coach, Leanne Williamson, for joining the Vermillion Rotary at our October 10 meeting. Your update on the USD volleyball team was interesting and informative. We wish you and the team all the best for the remainder of the season.
Major Dan Sundberg joined the Vermillion Rotary Club on October 3 and provided an informative presentation featuring updates on the University of South Dakota ROTC. You can watch the video by clicking on the image below, or watch this and other presentations on the Vermillion Rotary Youtube channel.
Former University of Nebraska-Lincoln football head coach Tom Osborne addresses a banquet audience at the Muenster University Center on the USD campus Friday night. He was keynote speaker at the Rotary District 5610 annual conference being held this weekend in Vermillion.Read the article.
VERMILLION, S.D. – The Vermillion Rotary Club will host the Rotary District 5610 annual conference and celebration, themed “Be the Inspiration,” Sept. 28-29 at the Muenster University Center in Vermillion. The conference “Be the Inspiration” banquet being held on Friday evening will feature keynote speaker, Tom Osborne, former University of Nebraska-Lincoln head football coach and athletic director, sharing a message on leadership and service. Osborne excelled in every aspect of his professional career and consistently kept the focus on service. Read More in the Plain Talk Article.
Tim Schreiner joined the Vermillion Rotary Club today and provided a fascinating look back at his journalism career that began as a reporter for USD's Volante and took him to Sioux Falls TV stations KELO and KSFY, the Argus Leader, and then to out-of-state work for the USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle and Oakland Tribune. After 20 years in news he turned to magazines and served as the editor, publisher and editorial director of various magazines and websites. Schreiner ended his career as a Professional in Residence teaching at the Journalism School at Louisiana State University for two years before returning to Vermillion. To see his presentation click on the image below or go to the video on the Vermillion Rotary YouTube channel.
At today’s meeting, we had the opportunity to hear from Dan Daily, Dean of Libraries at USD, as he shared with us the vast wealth of support and information for USD students and staff.
University of South Dakota President, Sheila Gestring, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club for our August 22 meeting and provided a wonderful update on current events at the University. Learn more about student enrollment trends, building projects, student achievments and much more!
Today we had the opportunity of hearing from Vermillion City Manager, John Prescott as he updated us on the many projects that are in process throughout the city. John also shared with us some of the proposed budget items for next year.
By clicking on the image below, you can also enjoy his presentation! If you would rather go to the YouTube page click here: https://youtu.be/g3h5eO2nEYY
Thank you John!
John Prescott Outlines Recent City of Vermillion Activities
Doug Peterson, Vermillion School Board member, delivered an informative an entertaining presentation discussing current issues in the school district, including funding levels, school spirit, community spirit and respect for educators. Thank you for sharing your insights with us, Dr. Peterson. Please click on the preview below to see the presentation. Click the image below to watch Dr. Peterson's presentation.
Doug Peterson Discusses Public Education in Vermillion
Thank you, Rotarian Nick Oyen, for helping us to learn more about the history and operations of SESDAC, Inc. Click on the image below to see Nick's informative presentation delivered to the Vermillion Rotary Club on July 24.
Bobbi Lower of Vance Thompson Vision, provided a very informative presentation regarding cataracts! You can watch her presentation or going to the the Vermillion Rotary Club Youtube page (link on the left side of the home page).
Today, Rotary Club of Vermillion president Rand Wergin, welcomed District Governor, Steve Harrington, who was present to swear in our very own, David Lorenz, as the new District Governor for the 2018-2019 Rotary year! In addition to Steve Harrington (podium), past District Governor, Steve Sikorski (left), represented the District during Dave's induction as the District Governor.
David, in his very first message as District Governor spoke about the kindness, we as Rotarians share not only world wide, but also here in Vermillion.
At the July 3 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, it was announced that Kathy Chandler was selected as Rotarian of the Year! A very deserved honor. Congratulations, Kathy!
As a lead into a trip in 2019, Vermillion High School teacher, Teramie Hill, talked with the Vermillion Rotary Club about educating the next generation about WWII and the Holocaust. Thank you, Ms. Hill, for sharing your knowledge on this topic and for putting together this wonderful tour for 2019 that will allow VHS students to see first-hand some of these critical locations related to WWII and the Holocaust.
Hill Discusses WWII/Holocaust Trip for VHS Students
James Goblirsch of the Vermillion Parks and Recreation Department provided an update on his Department's activities. The update included the recent changes to Rotary Park, as well as the announcement of a Rotary Duck Race to be held in August.
University of South Dakota Track & Field Head Coach, Lucky Huber, reviewed the team's success this year and highlighted the recent Women's team conference championship, as well as outstanding performances by many of the team members at the NCAA West Preliminaries last week. Six athletes finished in the top-12 in their events and will be competing next week at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships. Thank you for your humor and your insights, Lucky. You can watch his presentation below or on Youtube.
Professor Molly Rozum joined the Vermillion Rotary Club to discuss her research on the early settlers of Northwest South Dakota. A particular focus of her presentation was on the sod houses of those early settlers. Thank you for your incredibly interesting presentation.
For the twenty-second year, the Vermillion Rotary Club has given free bicycle helmets to all second-grade students in Jolley Elementary School and St. Agnes School. In partnership with the Vermillion Medical Clinic, the groups purchased the new helmets.
As part of the Earth Week activities in Vermillion, Rotarians, Vermillion Medical staff, members of the Barking Dogs Cycling club and Vermillion EMS, came together to provide information and demonstrations on different types of bicycles and bicycle safety, before helping the students to properly fit their new helmet.
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the helmet distribution.
Our thanks to Meghann Jarchow for joining us today to fill in the club members and guests on the Earth Week activities in Vermillion as well as the wonderful activities of the Greening Vermillion organization. More information about about the organization can be found at www.GreeningVermillion.org and to learn more about Earth Week activities visit www.GreeningVermillion.org/earth-days. Please click on the image below to watch Dr. Jarchow's presentation.
At the April 10 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, members and guests learned more about "SK8 the State for MS" a program raising funds and awareness in states throughout the Midwest.
Coyote News, the weekly news broadcast created by students at the University of South Dakota, featured the Vermillion Rotary Club in their April 4 broadcast. Click below to watch the short story about the Club.
For Read Across America Day, the Vermillion Rotary Club gave books to all the Kindergarten students in Vermillion, SD. This short video shows some of the great pictures (thanks Lisa Swanson) of these wonderful students selecting and enjoying their new books. The Rotary Club hopes that this will help to encourage these students to continue reading. Be sure to turn up the volume to hear a classic story.
Rotary Club Gives Books to Vermillion Kindergarteners
Angela Helmer of the Vermillion Rotary Club joined a group of volunteers led by ShelliGonnermanMasek from Hope Haven on a recent trip to distribute wheelchairs in Guatemala. Angela's presentation at the Vermillion Rotary's March 20 meeting helped us to understand the wonderful work being done by Hope Haven.
At the March 13 lunch meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, Vermillion School Supt., Damon Alvey, provided a wonderful background of his experience as an educator and an update on all the wonderful activities in the Vermillion School District.
Supt. Alvey Updates Rotarians on Vermillion Schools
At the February 27 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, United Way of Vermillion Executive Director, Kelsey Collier-Wise, provided an update of the organization's activities in the last year. Highlights included a record setting annual campaign that just completed and information on the new Communication Connection Center that is currently in the planning stages. Watch the video below to learn more or go directly to the presentation on Youtube.
On February 20, Vermillion Rotarians and guests were fortunate to hear a wonderful presentation by USD Medical Student, Emily Endres. Emily described the F.A.R.M. program, a program that places USD medical students in smaller hospitals in more rural communities. The seven communities benefit by having extra medical staff and the students are introduced to medical practice in smaller communities. Please select the link below to hear about this great program.
On Tuesday, February 13, Vermillion City Manager, John Prescott, along with Vermillion City Council Vice-President, Rich Holland and President, Kelsey Collier-Wise (left to right) accept a check for $5,000 from Vermillion Rotary Club President, Steve Walters, for renovation of Rotary Park in Vermillion. The check represents the first half of the Rotary Club’s $10,000 commitment to the City for the park’s renovation.
South Dakota Governor, Dennis Daugaard joined the Vermillion Rotary Club to discuss economic development in the state. Thank you Governor Dennis Daugaard for joining us on December 19 and sharing important information on the economic future of our state.
Two years ago the Vermillion Rotary Club was fortunate enough to host Tayla Fenkart on her Rotary Youth Exchange in Rotary District 5610. Her talent was in evidence during her time at Vermillion High School and she continues to impress. The link below takes you to her performance on Good Morning Austria. Don't worry, the performance is in English. Our thanks to Kelly Herbster for sharing this link so that we could all enjoy Tayla's talent. We also wish to thank the Herbster family, as well as Dave and Lisa Swanson and family for being such wonderful host families. Click on the image below to be linked to her performance.
Ryan Nowack, Director of the Intensive English Program at USD, shared his experiences having living in Korea for 15 years and now working with international students at USD.
Nowack Discusses Challenges for International Students
On Saturday, Dec. 2, members of the Vermillion Rotary Club and Yankton Rotary Club answered phones for the South Dakota Public Broadcasting pledge drive. After some instructions the Rotarians answered phones during the breaks and enjoyed some laughs between working the breaks. Mark Yockey from Vermillion and Rich Burns from Yankton were the big fundraisers.
Front row: Steve Walters, Mark Yockey, Rich Burns (Yankton), Chuck Lubbers
USD Womens Basketball Coach, Dawn Plitzuweit, shares the three expectations they have of the players on the team as well as the four elements of the "Elevate" program. Part of the program is to provide community service. Coach Plitzuweit is an example of a coach who is doing everything she can to help her players to succeed on and off the court.
Mike Piccanatto treated the Vermillion Rotary Club to a presentation on the German Culture and the efforts within Berlin to integrate Syrian refugees. Piccanatto and his family have lived for five years in Berlin and he shares his experiences during that time and answers questions from Rotarians.
Piccanatto Discusses German Culture and Refugee Efforts
Clay County Historical Society Commission members, Evelyn Schlenker and Patrick J. Morrison, honored the Vermillion Rotary Club by having our November 8, meeting serve as the venue to present several awards for historic preservation achievement in Clay County. Congratulations to the individual preservation project award recipients, Monica Lund Iverson and James Waters for their renovation to the property at 15 West Main Street in Vermillion and also to Mart Brothers Construction for their renovation of the property at 3 Prospect St. Marty and Teresa Gilbertson were also recognized for their preservation efforts on several structures, including houses in the University Historic District. Finally, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church was recognized with a lifetime achievement award.
Historical Society Presents Awards for Renovation Projects
Our thanks go to Randell Beck for sharing your experiences as a member of the Pulitzer Award committee - the first person from South Dakota in the 100+ year history of the award.
Beck Shares His Experiences on the Pulitzer Award Committee
Vermillion Rotary Club members and guests were treated to a wonderful presentation by USD Head Football Coach, Bob Nielson, at the October 3 meeting. Nielson previewed the upcoming Dakota Days football game against Youngstown State as well as discussing a couple of major issues that are becoming more important in collegiate sports. To watch a video of his presentation, please do to the Club's Youtube page (https://youtu.be/1TX1_rRaJhI), or play the video below.
On October 24, members of the Vermillion Rotary Club, along with the other 1.2 million Rotarians around the world, will celebrate the nearly complete task of eliminating Polio from the Earth.
Dr. Amanda Duxbury, MD, gave the Rotary Club members the opportunity to learn more about her history, her medical training and what medical services she will provide at Sanford Vermillion. If you wish to learn more about her background, click here. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Buxbury.
After the meeting, Dr. Duxbury took time to answer questions from club members, including Dave Lorenz, District 5610 Governor-Elect, and Rand Wergin, Vice President of the Vermillion Rotary Club.
Dr. Amanda Duxbury Introduced to Vermillion Rotary
Our thanks to Dean Tom Geu for his Sept. 5 presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club updating the members on the USD Law School. Dean Geu was kind enough to stay after and answer questions.
Lenni Billberg, Vermillion High School teacher and coordinator of the School's Volunteer Day, accepts a "big check" from Vermillion Rotary Club President, Steve Walters, to help support the upcoming Volunteer Day. For the past eight years high school students have taken one day off from classes during homecoming week to provide service to individuals and organizations in the community. Thank you, Lenni, for your contributions to the community.
Vermillion Rotary Supports VHS Student Volunteer Day
At the August 1, 2017 Vermillion Rotary meeting, Daniel Burniston, Director of the Edith B. Siegriest Vermillion Public Library, provided an interesting synopsis of the many services and programs offered by the library that benefit the entire community.
Vermillion Rotary Hears about Many Library Programs and Services
Ten Vermillion Rotarians prepared and served dinner at the Welcome Table on Monday, July 24. Thank you to the volunteers who helped and who donated food. And special thanks to the regular volunteers at the Welcome Table who make this weekly meal one of the great aspects of Vermillion!
While the unofficial welcome happens all the time, it has been a while since the Vermillion Rotary Club had an official recognition of new members. At today’s meeting, eight of those new members introduced themselves and then there was a “moment of silence” as the “new” sticker was removed from their club badge. Pictured below are eight of the new members to the club in the last 18 months, along with Club President, Steve Walters.
Pictured above: Front row: Mark Winegar, Jo Kim, Kelsey Collier-Wise, Jason Thiel,
Back row: Clarence Vanderlei, Steve Walters-President, Lamont Sellers, Abby Doorn, Arvid Krueger.
Other new members who could not attend today’s meeting include: Musheera Anis, Shelly Bunkers, Tiffany Graham, Robert Hansen, Angela Helmer, Jeaneite Lorenz, Art Rusch, Jay Thaler, and Jessi Wilharm. Those not able to attend today will be officially recognized at a meeting in the fall.
At a club social on Tuesday, June 27, Michelle Maloney receives a plaque recognizing her service as the President of the Vermillion Rotary Club during the 2016-17 Rotary Year. The plaque is presented by Steve Walters who takes over as the Club President starting on July 1.
At the recent Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, a total of $1.2 billion in pledges toward the eradication of polio was announced. To see a short video about the announcement and the importance of these pledges, click on the image below or this LINK.
Rotary Announces $1.2 Billion in Pledges to End Polio!
Four Vermillion Rotarians (Michelle Maloney, Jason Thiel, Dave Lorenz, and Chuck Lubbers) participated in the Rotary Membership Matters workshop in Sioux City on June 3.
The twelve Rotarians at the workshop learned about strategies for member recruitment and retention.
District Governor-elect, Steve Harrington, and Zone trainer, Bob Delavan of the Grand Junction, Colorado, Rotary Club, pose with the 4-way test banner after the Membership Matters workshop in Sioux City on June 3. Thanks, Bob, for such a wonderful session.
At the May 23 weekly meeting, Jackie Williams, Vice President, was proud to present the first Vermillion Rotarian of the Year Award to Doug Tuve. Thank you Doug for your continued service and dedication to the Vermillion Rotary Club!
Our thanks to Chaya Gordon-Bland, Managing Artistic Director of the SD Shakespeare Festival, for her informative presentation on all of the SDSF activities. Gordon-Bland, Scott Mollman, Director of Operations and Productions, and Rotarian Greg Huckabee were founding leaders of the Shakespeare Festival. The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival welcomes everyone to free performances of the production "The Comedy of Errors" in Prentice Park, Vermillion SD. In addition to the production, the SDSF features workshops for children, preview performances in the region and a roundtable discussion of the play with Shakespeare scholars on Saturday afternoon. More information can be found on the SD Shakespeare Festival's website. The Vermillion Rotary Club has been a financial sponsor and has provided volunteers since the beginning. Additionally, two Vermillion Rotarians (Rich Holland and Lamont Sellers) serve on the SDSF Board of Directors and over 20 Vermillion Rotarians are also individual sponsors.
SD Shakespeare Festival Prepares 2017 Performances
On April 21, 2017 the Vermillion Rotary Club partnered with the Vermillion Medical Clinic and the Barking Dogs Cycling Club to provide information on cycling and to present all the second-graders in Vermillion with a new helmet to wear while riding. This is the 23rd year that the Vermillion Rotary has given bicycle helmets to all second graders. Special thanks go to the helmet program's coordinator from the very start, Chuck Yelverton, for all of his hard work on this project. Thanks also to all the other Rotarians who have supported the work over the years.
This short video shows some photographs from the event. You can either click on this link or the image below to see the video. There is also a copy of the Vermillion Plain Talk article in the download files section.
Our thanks to Dr. Heather Kleeman for sharing her experiences while on a medical mission trip to Zambia. Her presentation during the April 18 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club helped us to have a better understanding of the health care challenges faced by the people of Zambia.
Our thanks to Michael Dendinger for sharing his experiences while he was in the Peace Corp serving in Armenia. His presentation at the April 4, lunch meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club was informative and entertaining. We wish Michael all the best as he pursues graduate work in International Relations.
Dendinger Shares his Peace Corp Experience in Armenia
Owen DeJong and Nick Schwebach, two members of the Public Domain Tunes Band (PDTB), share some wonderful music with the Vermillion Rotary Club on March 21, 2017. The performance was held during the Rotary Club's weekly meeting.
This presentation by Milt Haar of the U.S. National Park Service discusses the Missouri National Recreational River and the possible incorporation of "Goat Island" into the park. This presentation was given to the Vermillion, SD Rotary Club on March 28, 2017 in the Al Neuharth Media Center on the campus of the University of South Dakota.
Milt Haar Discusses Adding Goat Island to the MNRR
Congratulations to the graduates of the 2017, District 5610, Area 7 Rotary Leadership Institute held in Vermillion, SD on March 25. Pictured below (L-R) are Dave Lorenz, District Gov. Nominee and RLI facilitator; Jackie Williams, Arvid Krueger, Mark Hecox, Stephen Yarbrough; Lamont Sellers, Milton Haar, Charlie the Coyote standing in for Steve Walters; and Chuck Lubbers, Area 7 Asst. Gov and RLI facilitator. Dave Lorenz, Jackie Williams, Arvid Krueger, Stephen Yarbrough, Lamont Sellers, Steve Walters and Chuck Lubbers are all members of the Vermillion Rotary Club.
Vermillion Rotarians Participate in Rotary Leadership Institute
For "Read Across America" day, the Vermillion, SD Rotary Club donated books so that all Kindergarten students in town could have a book of their own. Extra books were left with the instructors for class use. This 2-minute video includes photos from the day as well as an audio track with a famous actor reading part of "Green Eggs and Ham." The inside cover had a sticker where students were encouraged to write their name in their book! Our thanks to librarian, Lisa Swanson, for the amazing photos. https://youtu.be/KI2vso9JppU
Vermillion Rotary Donates Books to Kindergarteners
Doug Kronaizl of Represent South Dakota spoke at the Feb. 28, 2017 Rotary meeting in Vermillion, SD. Kronaizl spoke about the history of Initiated Measure 22 (IM-22), an anti-corruption measure, that SD voters approved in November of 2016. He provides a timeline of what has happened since then, including the legislature repealing the measure. A major portion of the presentation details legislative efforts thus far as they relate to issues in IM-22. You can find out more about Represent SD on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/1653931281562826/
You can watch the video of the presentation by clicking the image below or by going to: https://youtu.be/VTkRgAy4Ti8
On Tuesday, February 21, Rebecca Meier treated the members of the Vermillion Rotary Club to a background on the organization's plans as they initiate operations in Clay County. Learn more about the organization's activities at their website: www.habitatclayyankton.org.
Meier Talks about Clay-Yankton Habitat for Humanity
News reports indicate that Bill Gates will speak at the 2017 Rotary International Convention in Atlanta. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has joined Rotary in the global effort to eradicate polio. Click on the photo below to read the story.
Bill Gates to Speak at Rotary International Conference
Vermillion United Way Executive Director, Kelsey Collier-Wise, gives an update on the United Way's activities including the recent activation of the 211 program. Recorded at the Vermillion Rotary Club Meeting on February 14, 2017 in the Al Neuharth Media Center on the Campus of the University of South Dakota. Click on the image below to watch the presentation or watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/QccDz9y1k88
Collier-Wise Discusses Vermillion United Way Activities
Lenni Billberg, Vermillion High School teacher and coordinator of the School's Volunteer Day, concludes her January 17 presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club by thanking the Rotarians and others who sponsor the event. For the past eight years high school students have taken time from classes during homecoming week to provide service to individuals and organizations in the community. Thank you, Lenni, for your contributions to the community.
Find out more about the impact of the VHS Volunteer Day by reading this article in the Plain Talk.
Billberg Discusses Vermillion High School Volunteer Day
The Vermillion Rotary Club is a proud supporter of this effort. Many of our members, including current club president, Michelle Maloney, who is pictured here, are serving on the cultural organization's Board of Directors and/or have provided financial support. Many Vermillion residents are working to make this wonderful project a reality. Thanks to you all!
Michelle Maloney, vice president of the Vermillion Downtown Cultural Association's board of directors, right, and Jason Thiel, association executive director, talk about remodeling progress at the Coyote Twin theater in downtown Vermillion, South Dakota. One of the theater's two auditoriums is being renovated and will reopen on Friday.
Vermillion Theater's renovation is nearly complete
The Vermillion Rotary Club was treated to an insider's perspective on the upcoming South Dakota Legislative session from two area legislators. District 17 Senator Art Rusch and District 17 House Representative Ray Ring gave a legislative session preview to the Vermillion Rotary Club on January 3.
Our thanks go out to the members of the Vermillion Rotary Club who volunteered to work at the recent food giveaway. Hundreds of our neighbors will have a brighter holiday because of your work and the Club's donation to help pay for the food.
You can read more about the food giveaway by going to this Plain Talk article, or clicking on the article image below.
Our thanks to the membership of ESA-Theta Omega in Vermillion for giving us the opportunity to participate in the Giving Tree project. Their organization's members work so diligently to help guarantee a better Holiday for so many families in the area.
Thank you to the Vermillion High School choir under the direction of Trisha Fisher for filling our Holiday luncheon with beautiful music of the season.
Vermillion High School Choir Performs at Holiday Luncheon
On November 8, Vermillion Rotary Club President, Michelle Maloney (right), presented a check to Sherri Rodgers-Conti, Executive Director of the Southeast SD CASA office to support the work of her office. The program provides Court Appointed Special Advocates who serve as an advocate for children during court proceedings. They advocate for the child and provide the information that judges need to make decisions about the welfare of the child.
For years the Vermillion Rotary Club has provided volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels in Vermillion. The Club's efforts are organized by Ralph Brown, and we are grateful for his hard work to keep the rest of us organized. Thanks. Ralph!
In the photograph below, Vermillion Rotarians (L-R) Greg Redlin, Mike Chaney and John Prescott get last minute instructions from the kitchen staff before heading out for deliveries.
USD Political Science graduate student, Proper Zongo, spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club on November 2. Zongo described his efforts to alleviate the water problems that are so prevalent in his native land of Burkina Faso. He raised the money and led the efforts to build a well in a rural village about a six-hour drive from the nation's capitol. Click on the photo below to watch a video of Prosper's presentation.
Vermillion Rotary Club Hears of Water Program in Burkina Faso
At the October 12 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, Jerry Wilson discussed some of the history, as well as some recent proposals for changes to the Clay County CAFO regulations. These regulations govern the operations of Confined Animal Feeding Organizations.
Kellyna Warnke, RN, Janice McGuire, RN and Susan Halbritter, CNP, of Sanford Health in Sioux Falls and Vermillion, joined the Vermillion Rotary Club on Tuesday, Sept. 13, to discuss advances in telehealth. Rotarian Susan Tuve volunteered to be the patient and her condition was "diagnosed" by medical staff in Sioux Falls through the use of state-of-the-art equipment available in Vermillion Sanford Hospital and demonstrated at the meeting.
South Dakota Coyotes' head football coach Bob Nielson told Vermillion Rotarians about what to expect this season, as well as recapping last week's game in New Mexico. Thanks for coming Coach Nielson, and #GoYotes !
The Vermillion Rotary Club welcomed members from the Kooringal and Sunrise Rotary Clubs of Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Australia-District 9700. National Music Museum Executive Director, Cleveland Johnson, gave a VIP tour and demonstrated several key pieces in the collection. Their SD tour began August 22 and ends September 6. Thank you for making Vermillion part of your trip!
During the 2016 Rotary District 5610 Conference in Pierre, the Vermillion Rotary Club and two of its members received special recognition. In the photo below, Dave Lorenz (L) is shown with a plaque he received from Steve Sikorski (R) for his many years of service as an Assistant Governor for Area 7.
The Vermillion club received a citation for their support of the Youth Exchange program. In the photo below, Chuck Lubbers is shown with the representatives of the other clubs who supported the Rotary Youth Exchange efforts in District 5610 during 2015-16. Chuck Lubbers was also given a certificate for the public image activities for the Vermillion Club during the 2015-2016 Rotary year.
Awards for Vermillion Rotary at District Conference
One of the newest Rotary Global Grant Scholars, Katia Duszenko, introduced herself and thanked the Vermillion Rotary club for sponsoring her application for the scholarship. Katie graduated from the University of South Dakota with a majors in Media & Journalism, International Studies and French. She will be pursing a Master's degree in international relations with the goal of working after graduation on programs that improve literacy rates in developing nations. She will be studying at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.
In the photo above, Katie is pictured with some of the individuals who helped to make the scholarship a reality. From left to right are: Chuck Lubbers, past President of the Vermillion Rotary Club and current Area 7 Assistant Gov., Steve Sikorski, Immediate past Governor; Katia Duszenko; Dave Lorenz, Scholarship Subcommittee Chair and District Governor Nominee; and Tim Schorn, Vermillion Rotary Club member and Director of the International Studies Program at the University of South Dakota. During the meeting Steve and Katia thanked Dave Lorenz and Tim Schorn for the hours they spent helping her to prepare her application.
District 5610 Global Grant Scholar Speaks to the Vermillion Rotary Club
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our Rotary brother, Ed Nesselhuf. Ed was a minister with incredible faith, an advocate for those who have no voice in our society, a supporter of the community, and an award-winning cowboy poet. Ed was always a strong supporter of the Vermillion Rotary Club, having recently been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. In this time of sorrow we can take comfort in the knowledge that we were blessed to have known Ed.
General Information
Full Name: Edmund Kent Nesselhuf
Date of Birth: Monday, January 24th, 1944
Date of Death: Wednesday, July 27th, 2016
Service Information
When: Saturday, August 6th, 2016, 11:00am
Location: Trinity Lutheran Church
Address: 816 East Clark, Vermillion, SD 57069
To read Ed's obituary, see information on the services or leave a condolence message:
On July 26, three of the leads in the upcoming Vermillion Community Theatre production of "Wizard of Oz" treat the Vermillion Rotary Club to a few of the scenes from the production.
Please excuse the video quality - it was shot on a cell phone from quite a distance away. You can view the video by going here https://youtu.be/wD4ydmDdq2w or by clicking on the photo below.
Rotary District 5610 Governor, Ed Jacobson, spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club at their July 12 meeting. Ed talked about his background and also encouraged all the members of the club to be more active in Rotary. During his program, Jacobson presented to Club President, Michelle Maloney, a banner with this year's theme of "Rotary Serving Humanity." In this photo he presents his definition of Rotary that could be used during an "elevator pitch."
District 5610 Gov. Ed Jacobson Speaks to Vermillion Rotary
The "Rotary Year" runs from July 1 to June 30. So, today marks the end of the 2015-16 year and tomorrow we begin the 2016-17 year. As the new year begins, Chuck Lubbers moves to past president of the club, Michelle Maloney moves to President, Steve Walters is the new president elect, and Jackie Williams is the new vice president. Kathy Chandler will remain as secretary and Doug Tuve will continue as the treasurer. The two new members of the Club Board are Jackie Williams and Jeff Chatham. Returning members of the Board, other than the officers noted above, are Emily Sudbeck and Craig Thompson.
In the photo below, Chuck Lubbers accepts a plaque denoting his year of service as the Club president. The plaque was presented at the Club picnic on June 28.
2015-6 Vermillion Rotary Club President, Chuck Lubbers, wrapped up his term with a club assembly on June 21 that highlighted the Club's activities and challenges for the future. The video below is based on the PowerPoint presentation used for the assembly. You can view it by clicking on the image or going to: https://youtu.be/najXCYfU1eg.
In the picture below you see the Vermillion Rotarians who helped South Dakota Public Broadcasting by answering phone calls during the SDPB's pledge drive during the evening of June 5, 2016. Our thanks to these Rotarians for providing service to this important organization.
Sioux Falls North Rotarian Shelli Gonnerman Masek made the trip to Vermillion today to tell our club more about the activities of Hope Haven International. After the meeting she had the chance to catch up with fellow Assistant Gov., Dave Lorenz.
Today, Tayla, Rotary Exchange Student, treated the Vermillion Rotary club to a wonderful presentation about her time in the US. In addition to pictures of her many activities, she also read a great essay that she wrote about the Rotary Exchange program. My favorite passage said something like, "Exchange is not a year in my life, it's a new life in a year."
The top photo shows Tayla after her presentation posing with Rotarian Emily Sudbeck, who was an outstanding coordinator for Tayla's exchange. In the bottom photo, Tayla helps to celebrate her host-sister's graduation from Vermillion High School last Saturday.
Exchange Student Talks About Her Year in Vermillion
Tayla, (right) from Austria is wowing the audiences at Vermillion High School this weekend. Tayla plays "Babette" in Beauty and the Beast. Pictured with her is Max the Lumiere. Thank you, Jane Gullickson, for posting the photo on the District's Facebook page. Tayla has been an absolute delight. She has packed so much into her Rotary Exchange experience. We look forward to hearing about her year in Vermillion at our meeting on May 17! I would like to thank Emily Sudbeck for doing a stellar job coordinating Tayla's visit. Nicely done Emily! Our thanks also go to the Dave and Kelly Herbster family and Dave and Lisa Swanson family for being amazing host families.
On Earth Day, April 22, 2016, the Vermillion Rotary Club partnered with the Vermillion Medical Clinic and the Barking Dogs Cycling Club to provide information on cycling and to present all the second-graders in Vermillion with a new helmet to wear while riding. This is the 22nd year that the Vermillion Rotary has given bicycle helmets to all second-graders. Special thanks go to the helmet program's coordinator from the very start, Chuck Yelverton, for all of his hard work on this project. Thanks also to all the other Rotarians who have supported the work over the years.
This short video shows some pictures from the event. You can either click on this link or the image below to see the video.
Vermillion Rotary Presents Bicycle Helmets to all 2nd Graders
Members of the Vermillion Rotary Club's Board of Directors, including President-elect, Michelle Maloney (holding check-right), present a check to Jessi Wilharm (check-left) and Kevin Brady (seated on bicycle), the leaders of Recycle 605. Recycle 605 will use the money to help refurbish used bicycles for distribution to individuals in the area who would not otherwise be able to afford them.
Members of the Vermillion Area Robotics Club accept a donation from Vermillion Rotary Club Board members Steve Walters and Emily Sudbeck on Thursday, March 24. The group recently won the state competition and has qualified for national and international competitions. The donation will be used to offset some of their travel expenses.
Paul Kleeman, Bobby Phillips, Josh Suing and Danielle Smith are introduced by Rennae O'Connor before their March 22 presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club about the Supported Employment Program of Vermillion's SESDAC. Kleeman, Phillips, Smith and O'Connor are with SESDAC and Suing is the Manager of the Vermillion HyVee, one of the 30+ businesses who have employees from the program.
Vermillion Rotarians Dave Lorenz and Chuck Lubbers served as facilitators for the Sioux City Rotary Leadership Institute on March 18 and 19. The photo below is the at the closing of the 2-day Institute. We congratulate the Rotarians from Le Mars, Scotland, Sioux City and South Sioux City who are the most recent graduates of the program.
Vermillion Rotarians Participate in Rotary Leadership Institute
At the March 8 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, Kevin Brady and Jessi Wilharm discuss the program "Recycle 605" which they recently founded. The group repairs donated bicycles for redistribution to individuals in need of one. Read more about the program here.
Jim Wilson is one of the Rotarians who will be volunteering at the Shakespeare First Folio Exhibit at the National Music Museum in Vermillion. The exhibit will run from March 7 to April 2. Admission to the Folio Exhibit and the rest of the National Music Museum are Free during the time of the Shakespeare exhibit. This is truly #MusicFoodOfLove.
Rotarians Volunteer at the Shakespeare First Folio Exhibit
On Friday, March 4, first-grade students at Austin Elementary were treated to green eggs and ham as a tribute to Dr. Suess. According to an article in the Equalizer, "Friday's event, sponsored by the Vermillion Public Schools Foundation, culminated a week-long focus on Dr. Seuss in first-grade classrooms in Vermillion." The Vermillion Rotary Club provided some financial support for the event and Rotarians, including Jim Peterson and Susan Tuve, helped to make it a reality.
Vermillion Rotary Donation Helps Bring Green Eggs and Ham to Students
Vermillion Rotary Club officers, Kathy Chandler, secretary, Doug Tuve, treasurer, and Chuck Lubbers, president (not pictured), recently presented a check for $1,000 to the Vermillion Downtown Cultural Association Board members and theater employees. The money will help the VDCA’s efforts to modernize the theaters in Vermillion.
Chuck Lubbers presents a check to the Vermillion High School German Club to help cover the costs of students traveling to Germany in May. There are 16 VHS students traveling to Vermillion’s sister city, Ratingen, with two chaperones, Kamden Dibley and Shannon Fitzsimmons. The dates of travel are May 21-June 7. The group will live with German families, attend school in Ratingen, see local sites, and take an extended weekend trip to the Eifel Mountain range. The trip is being organized through an organization called GAPP, German American Partnership Program.
Individuals in the Photo:
Kamden Dibley (VHS Faculty – Left front), Chuck Lubbers, (Vermillion Rotary President, Right front),
VHS students: L-R
Avery Mollet, Noah Westergaard, Nick Svendsen, Daniel Fuller, Dawson Daniels, Madelyn Zevecke, Alex Rosdail, Leah Murphy, Ashley Schulz, Tyler Hauck, Cooper Williams, Gabe DeJong
Pictured above are some of the 25 Volunteers who came together on Friday, Dec. 18 to pack 80 holiday food baskets for families in need in Vermillion and the surrounding area. Then on Saturday morning volunteers delivered the baskets/boxes to the families.
The baskets contain a wide array of nonperishable food products – pasta, soups, vegetables, cereals, etc., as well as toiletries – soap, facial tissues and bathroom tissue. Before they were delivered to the homes, fresh produce was added to each basket. Each basket also contained an envelope with a certificate to buy meat and dairy products.
The recipients are always happy to receive the gifts and have indicated that the baskets allow them to have a wonderful holiday meal that they otherwise would not be able to afford. The recipients have also noted that the extra food in the baskets is a blessing following the holiday meal.
Four different groups provide the money and volunteers to make this project a reality. The two largest groups in terms of volunteers are the Vermillion Rotary Club and the Vermillion Lions Club. Our thanks to Ted Muenster, Steve Walters and Dick Abild for coordinating Rotary's considerable contribution to this effort. And our thanks to Steve for the photos.
Trisha Fisher, Choral Director for the Vermillion School District, leads the high school choir as they performed a number of classic and contemporary songs for the holidays at the December 8, Vermillion Rotary Club meeting.
After the performance Vermillion Rotary Club president, Chuck Lubbers, presented a donation from the Vermillion Rotary Club to the Music Booster club. Ms. Fisher received the check and Dan Van Peursem, Rotarian, former Rotary Club President and current member of the Music Booster Board, looks on.
A CNBC story identified the top 10 charities helping to change the world in 2015, and the Rotary Foundation was their #5 choice. The selection was based on the work of an organization called Charity Navigator, that, according to the CNBC article, is "...a service that provides information about a charity's functions, finances and management."
Bernie Hunhoff (Founder and Editor-at-large), Heidi Marsh (Co-Publisher) and Katie Hunhoff (Co-Publisher) (L-R) of South Dakota Magazine answer questions after a two-part presentation to the Vermillion Rotary Club on Tuesday, November 10. First Heidi and Katie talked about the history of SD Magazine and its many contributions to the State. Then, in honor of Veteran's Day, Bernie Hunhoff spoke of the Doolittle Raid, the US's response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor where 16 planes made a direct attack on Japan and then landed in (or near) the China mainland. Featured in the presentation was one of the 16 pilots, a SD native.
SD Magazine's 30-Year History and the Doolittle Raid Discussed at Nov. 10 Meeting
Cecily Englehart, a graduate of USD and recipient of a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club on November 3. She was sponsored by the Vermillion Rotary Club and District 5610 in pursuit of the prestigious Scholarship. In 2012 she studied abroad in New Zealand. She is now back in South Dakota permanently and is working for the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization in the Porcupine District of the Pine Ridge Reservation, as their Associate Director of Advancement. Englehart, said, "I feel as though I owe a great deal of my success to my experience as an Ambassadorial Scholar, so getting the chance to come and thank you all would be delightful." Thank you for coming back, Cecily. It was great to learn more about all that you've accomplished.
Cecily Englehart, Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Speaks to the Vermillion Rotary
On Monday, October 19, the governing body of the City of Vermillion proclaimed that October 23, 2015 would be designated as World Polio Day in Vermillion. A copy of the proclamation is located in the "Download Files" section of the website. World Polio Day is designed to recognize all the efforts that have gone into the fight to eradicate polio from the planet and to encourage everyone to do what they can to help finish the fight. Chuck Lubbers represented the Club and received a copy of the proclamation from Mayor Jack Powell. Lubbers is pictured below with the proclamation. We would like to thank John Prescott, Rotarian and former club President, for his assistance in obtaining the proclamation.
On Tuesday, October 13, Rotary Exchange student, Tayla Fenkart, gave a fascinating presentation about her native land of Austria and her experiences thus far in Vermillion. Additional photographs from her presentation and the exchange of club banners in included in an album.
Rotary Exchange Student Tayla Fenkart Presents to Vermillion Rotary
At the Sept. 29 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, Dick Brown of the South Dakota Parks & Wildlife Foundation gave a fascinating presentation on the newest of the SD state parks -- Good Earth State Park. The park, which has property on both the SD and IA sides of the Big Sioux River, is located immediately south of Sioux Falls.
Dick Brown Talks about Good Earth State Park at Blood Run
Rotary District 5610 Governor, Steve Sikorski, looks on after presenting recruitment pins to three Vermillion Rotarians at the Sept. 1 club meeting. Pins were presented to (L-R) Ted Muenster, Steve Walters and Chuck Lubbers.
Vermillion Rotarians Receive Recruitment Pins from District Gov.
Steve Sikorski, Rotary District 5610 Governor, spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club on Tuesday, Sept. 1. We want to thank the Gov. for his great presentation and to wish him the best as he travels to visit all the clubs in the District.
District 5610 Gov. Sikorski Speaks to Vermillion Rotary
Our thanks to all the members of the Vermillion Rotary Club who helped us to serve our guests at the Welcome Table on Monday, August 24.
A special thank you to Mary Edelen (Center) for coordinating the event for the club.
More great news in the war to eradicate polio from the planet. Nigeria, one of only three countries with cases of polio, reports no new cases of polio in a year. Watch “Nigeria One-Year Milestone” on @Vimeo https://vimeo.com/132868193
The Vermillion Rotary Club is sponsoring the July 23, Thursdays on the Platz. Please join us in downtown Vermillion for the music of Austin Hahn and for inexpensive food and drinks. See you there!
Vermillion Rotary Sponsors "Thursdays on the Platz"
At the Tuesday, June 23, 2015, meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, fourteen members were initiated into the organization. All fourteen have joined the Vermillion Rotary since the last initiation ceremony. Ten of the fourteen were able to attend the meeting and are pictured below. Back/standing: Jim Moran, Rand Wergin, Brent Clark, Jackie Williams, Steve Walters
Front/sitting: Jesús Treviño, John Davidson, Ted Muenster, Jeff Chatham, Rich Abild
Not pictured: Mike Keller, Jim Perry, Scott Pohlson and Nate Welch
Justin Swanson, Global Partners in Hope, wrote last week with an update on the project the Vermillion Rotary Club and other organization’s in Vermillion have been working to fund that will provide clean water for an area of Mali.
“I'm excited to report that construction is underway on the water well in N'gola! You can see pictures and read some comments from our Malian partners here: http://www.globalpartnersinhope.com/well-construction-begins-in-two-malian-villages/
The funds donated by the Vermillion Rotary Club are being used for this well. Thank you for helping to make clean water a reality for the families of N'gola!
It shouldn't be long before the well is dug, the water tower is put up, and the well is fully functional! I'll keep you in the loop as things progress.”
Our thanks go to Steve Walters’ for bringing this opportunity to the Vermillion Rotary Board of Directors and for coordinating the fundraising efforts in Vermillion. Clean water projects are a priority of Rotary International.
"A special election will be held June 30, 2015 for City of Vermillion registered voters to determine if the initiated and referred measures as contained on the official ballot will become effective. Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on June 30th at the National Guard Armory/Community Center at 603 Princeton Street."
To find out more about the items on the ballot, to see a sample ballot and to learn more about registering to vote, please click here.
We encourage all Vermillion residents to vote on June 30.
From Nate: One of the proud fun duties I have is sharing the Sgt. At Arms role for our Rotary Club in Vermillion with Michelle Maloney - I've been traveling a lot for work and have had to leave my partner in crime hanging the last few weeks... So I fined myself ... And of course made a big deal about it. Thanks Michelle for having my back. Thanks Chuck Lubbers for accepting the check. Thanks David Herbster for pic!
We encourage our members who meet the criteria in the study announcement to consider participating in the research. Your participation could earn $25 or $50 for the Rotary Club to use for important projects.
We are hosting our second food packing event for Kids Against Hunger and we are inviting Rotary clubs from around the area to join us! Last year we were excited to have representation from all four Sioux Falls Rotary clubs at this event. This year we thought it would be fun to invite Rotarians from nearby clubs as well.
The packing event is the afternoon of April 25. We have three sessions available (1.5hours each - 1:00-2:30, 2:30-4:00, and 4:00-5:30) at the Kids Against Hunger building in Sioux Falls, (33rd and Minnesota).
It would be really great to have representation from the Vermillion club, if your schedule allows. Volunteers of all ages (8 years and up) and all capabilities are welcomed. Standing is required.
If you have any questions, or need additional information, please give me a call at 605-360-6279. --Mary DeVany
Sioux Falls Rotary South Requests Help with Food Packaging
Tom Golian, manager of the Vermillion, SD based Builders Choice, spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club on March 17. Golian described the work being done at the facility and the role of Builders Choice as a leader in the modular construction industry.
Tom Golian Explains Builders Choice's Role in Modular Industry
Dave Herbster, USD's Director of Athletics, spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and provided an interesting update on the construction that is going on to greatly improve the athletic facilities at USD.
David Herbster Reports on USD Athletic Facility Updates
At the January 27 meeting of the Vermillion Rotary Club, Jim Peterson, Clem Powers, Doug Tuve and Chuck Lubbers were recognized as the four newest Paul Harris Fellows. The presentation of certificates and pins was made following Craig Thompson's program on the Paul Harris Fellowship and the legacy of Harris.
Vermillion Rotary Recognizes Four New Paul Harris Fellows
Lynne Keller Forbes, Executive director of the South Eastern Council of Governments, spoke to the Vermillion Rotary Club on January 13, 2015. To read the story from the Equalizer look under the "download files" tab.
NO NEW CASES OF POLIO REPORTED WORLDWIDE LAST WEEK
For the second week in a row there have been no reported cases of polio anywhere in the world, according to figures released by the World Health Organisation.
The positive news gives strength to the hard work our Rotarians have carried out to make this a reality in polio stricken countries.
Rotary International's Rose Bowl Parade float discussed below, received a lot of attention. It also helped millions of people to understand the work of Rotary to provide safe water to people around the globe. A clip of the commentator coverage is on Youtube at: http://youtu.be/_doIuT-XKws
At the special holiday gathering of the Vermillion Rotary Club, the members and their guests enjoyed a performance by the Vermillion High School choir. The choir even made our membership sound good as the members joined the choir in singing four traditional holiday songs. At the conclusion of the festivities, Art Mabry presents Trisha Fisher, Choir Director, with a donation for the high school's music program. Additional photos of the choir performance can be found in the "Photo Albums" page (link at the top) in the album titled "Holiday Gathering - December 16 2014" or by clicking here.
Vermillion Rotary Club Enjoys Holiday Performance of VHS Choir
Greg Huckabee receives his New Member Sponsor pin from Art Mabry, Vermillion Rotary Club President, at the December 16 meeting. Huckabee is the first of several members who will be receiving these pins for their sponsorship of new members to the Vermillion Rotary.
David Owen, President of the SD State Chamber of Commerce reviewed some of the results of the 2014 election and offered a forecast about issues that were likely to emerge during the 2015 session of the SD State Legislature. A copy of the Equalizer story on Owen's presentation is in the "Download Files" section of the website.
SD Chamber President Forecasts 2015 Legislative Activity
Did you know that nearly all of the money raised in those kettles stays in the local area to help those in need?
The Salvation Army Kettle drive coordinators have requested help from Rotarians for bell ringers. The UCC is coordinating the sign-up for bell ringers and they have moved it to online scheduling. In this way you can choose a day and time that works for you.
Or call the UCC office and we will sign people up (624-3120)!
We need ringers on Fridays 5-9 pm; Saturdays 9 am-7pm; Sundays 11 am-5pm starting after Thanksgiving and running through Christmas! If you want to do another day – please call Alli in our church office. (624-3120)
Our thanks to Steve Walters for bringing this request to the club.
A November 21, 2014 article in the Equalizer discusses the presentation of Justin Swanson to the Vermillion Rotary Club earlier this month. A copy of the article can be found in the "download" section of the website.
Dr. Duncan J. McGregor, Ph. D., 93, died at home in Vermillion on September 14, 2014. On Saturday, November 8th at 10:30 am there will be a celebration to remember the lives of Duncan and Thelma McGregor.
Later in his career, McGregor served as professor of geology and as Chairman of the USD Department of Earth Resources until his full retirement in 1986, when he was awarded the rank of professor emeritus.
At USD, Duncan was an active member of the faculty serving on the University budget committee among others. He presented the Dean Harrington Lecture in 1985 and was an active member of the Clay County Historical Society and the Vermillion Rotary Club, he was honored with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
Thank you, Nick, Rachel, Kevin, Dan, Mark and Bart for making it such a wonderful day. 
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Dr. Duncan J. McGregor, Ph. D., 93, died at home in Vermillion on September 14, 2014. On Saturday, November 8th at 10:30 am there will be a celebration to remember the lives of Duncan and Thelma McGregor.