Rotary Club of St. George, Utah

06/16/2026

Rotarians Chris Parker, who has traveled with his kids, his wife and his dad, to Guatemala’s Mayan villages ten times in as many years; and Dave Prisbrey who headed up this project, shared their enthusiasm for this – designated at District 5420’s “project of the year” in RY2023-24 – which, this year, involved 24 travelers at a per person cost of $1500-$1800. Through a 2nd donation of $25,000 from an “anonymous” donor in Las Vegas, this amazing “service above self” project resulted in 121 simple, cinderblock stoves – bringing the 21-year total to about 3400 families who now no longer need to warm their homes and cook their meals on an open fire in the middle of their home.

Here are some additional statistics, in case anyone asks:

• The village where SGR built stoves is high up in the mountains at about 8600 feet elevation
• Total in-kind donations (air fare, accommodations, food) for hundreds of travelers over the years is approximately $700,000 bringing the project total to around $2-$3 million
• 45% of 19 million people who live in Guatemala are indigenous Mayans
• There are 23 official languages spoken in this central American country
• In addition to stoves, this trip also included the distribution of 95 lbs. of vitamins for women and children; wooden toy cars from the Happy Factory in Cedar City; 140 knit caps made by 3 St. George women; books and some school supplies; and 3-5 lb. bags of beans to all the women in the village.

Interested in donating, getting involved in another way or traveling with SGR next year? Please send questions to [email protected].

06/09/2026

According to CEO Kyle Case, registrations are rolling in faster than ever before with the hope of exceeding last year's attendance of 12,063 participants in the 39th annual Huntsman World Senior Games during the first two weeks of October 2026. Again, there will be plenty of competition for everyone, including three new sports; free medical screening; the Friendship Festival and two opening ceremonies (Tuesday, October 6 for the 1st week and Tuesday, October 13 for the 2nd week).

Studies show, “loneliness carries the SAME health risks as smoking 15 ci******es a day. Social isolation is two times as harmful as obesity and as lethal as alcoholism.”

This year’s theme “Don’t Stop” is a reminder to stay active and involved in life.

Watch for more information about this … the largest senior sporting event in the world which is expected to bring more than $42 million into the Washington County community.

And, Rotarians, don’t forget to sign up for Welcome Bags Assembly on Wednesday, September 30 at the Dixie Convention Center making this the first event of the Huntsman Games!!!

06/08/2026

The St. George Marathon – ranked 3rd in the nation’s marathon events and with a tag line “Like No Other” – the 50th run already has 6654 participants registered for the full, half, 5K, kids race or mayor’s walk toward an estimated total of 10,500+ according to Michelle Graves, Assistant Director of Parks and Community Services for the City of St. George.

Touted as the “largest and longest city municipal marathon in the U. S.,” and popular with runners for five decades as a “mostly downhill” race and a Boston qualifier - these 27.3 miles have come a long way since the beginning when the event had only one fulltime employee managing everything. “It wasn’t profitable for several years – during which time, the city explored the possibility of privatizing it, but the community went crazy, so we rethought everything we were doing and made some important changes,” noted Graves, “to get us where we are today!”

In honor of the event’s 50th anniversary, the city has created a commemorative book, a broad assortment of branded clothing and funded a $100K prize package, including $10K for each of the first-place winners. At the finish line, there will also be an ABBA cover band.

“This event has stood the test of time,” said Graves. “We regularly hear generational marathon stories from families, as well as happy memories from participants running together from neighborhoods and church groups, including one in which a runner complained about ‘someone bringing in a pastor to preach during the run … which turned out to be a speaker at LDS General Conference!”

For more information about the 50th running of the St. George Marathon, see [email protected].

06/04/2026

On Monday evening, June 1, incumbents Victor Iverson and Gil Almquist and challengers Bill Hoster and Troy Belliston, the four candidates for one of two seats on the Washington County Commission gathered with members of St. George Rotary at the Best Western Abbey Inn for another “Cookies with Candidates.” Unfortunately, the candidates had a less than stellar turnout from the voting public (they noted this was not the first “meet the candidates” gathering with a low turnout). Still, all four were impressive, enjoyed some face time with voters, answered questions for more than an hour … and the cookies were good, too!

Thanks to Bryan Thiriot for organizing the event, to Rotarians who helped set up and promote the event, and the Abbey Inn for their ongoing support of SGR.

05/27/2026

Bring your questions and enjoy a cookie ... !

St. George Rotary Club invites Washington County’s voting public to “Cookies with Candidates,” a community forum prior to the upcoming primary election for open positions on the Washington County Commission.

05/23/2026

On Memorial Day 2026, SGR was a little shorthanded - since many of our club members were in Guatemala building stoves and two latrines - to help remember and honor 2200+ veterans interred at St. George and Tonaquint cemeteries. But a dozen members from the local chapter of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) helped us at Tonaquint and a large group of scouts from the Little Valley troop showed up at St. George cemetery.

Thanks to Rotarians Sam, Dale, Jim and Joann, John White, Bryan and Boston Thiriot, Dave Watson (and his pup), Daniel and family and Ed and Linda Sappington (did we miss anyone?) who took time out of their holiday weekend to help post the colors of our country.

It was a beautiful day – and a beautiful “service above self” project with donuts and other treats for every volunteer – and we finished in less than an hour.

Note to Reed Noble, our Service Chair, we may still need a few more flags for Veterans Day!

05/20/2026

Here are some things you may not know as shared by Dr. Patrick Carroll, Intermountain Regional Associate Chief Medical Officer for Acute Care, Chief Medical Officer at St. George Regional Hospital, and a neonatologist … on Monday, May 17:

• SG Regional Hospital “puts people first, are leaders in clinical excellence, believes in what they do; partners in health, in all circumstances; strives to do the right thing and, believes we are better together.”
• Currently has nearly 3000 employees and a medical staff of 772 and 334 licensed beds. Last year there were 20,751 inpatient admissions and 74,436 ER visits. They are on track to deliver almost 3000 babies in 2026; and last year provided $48,830,693 in charity care.
• As a non-profit hospital, they are legally obligated to report to the Washington County Commissioners annually.
• SG Regional Hospital paid $4,239,031 in property taxes but gifted the community in the amount of $29,654,318.
• SG Regional Hospital partners with and provides support to the Washington County Receiving Center at Purgatory, Switchpoint, Children’s Justice Center, Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic, SW Public Health Department, Utah Tech, the Utah Food Bank and many other organizations.
• The hospital is expanding in the following ways:
- There are 16 operating rooms but 4 more are being added after which the other 16 will be refurbished 4 at a time.
- The Desert Color Primary Care facility is underway toward a goal to have care centers within 10 minutes of the larger communities in the county. A primary care center Washington City is also set to open … and SG Regional will soon be adding 34 more beds
• St. George Regional Hospital was named #1 hospital in the U.S. by one reviewer in 2024-25.

Intermountain currently has 33 hospitals and 385 clinics in 7 states: UT, NV, ID, CO, MT, KS and WY.

PS: We expected this accomplished MD to be “all business” but he was a fun presenter who knew how to joke as well as educate.

05/11/2026

We learned a great deal about what's coming up as we celebrate America's semi-quincentennial when David Cordero from St. George City and Commisioner Gil Almquist from "America's County" spoke today about plans being made for the celebration of our nation's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776!

If you are looking for a whole lot of fun things to do during this once-in-a-lifetime commemoration, see America250wc.com OR St. George City's website. No one can possibly be bored or wondering what there is to do through the rest of this year ... but especially don't miss the Freedom Truck which will only be in town from May 19-23!!!

05/04/2026

Do you know, the Rotary Club of Sanpete County does not currently exist, but thanks to Rotarian Dan Bradshaw, a member of the Bountiful Rotary Club, one is forming and already has 13 members! Why is this significant to you as a member of SGR?

The committee is offering you the opportunity to win a Browning AB3 Hunter 6.5 Creedmore Rifle. Funds raised will help improve literacy in Sanpete County. A drawing will be held at the Sanpete County Fair and Car Show in Manti on August 28 … and you don’t even need to be present to win!

Tickets are 1 for $5 … 5 for $20 or 30 for $100. Venmo to -bradshaw-1 or if you are passing through Manti you can pick up tickets at Hermansen’s Hardware or call Dan Bradshaw at 801-518-7055 for more information.

05/04/2026

May 4th is not just Star Wars Day ("May the 4th go with you") but more importantly, it is a significant day in Rotary history, as well!!!

On this day, May 4, 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Rotary Clubs (actually any organization) couldn't exclude women from membership on the basis of gender.

It all started with Sylvia Whitlock from the Rotary Club of Duarte, CA who was the 1st female member in the world, the first female Rotary Club President and who fought in the US Supreme Court in 1986 for all women's right to join Rotary.

Currently SGR has 16 female members representing 21% of our total membership.

We've come a very long way in 39 years but there are a great many talented and hardworking women left to recruit in every community in the Rotary world. Let's go find them!