What a busy and wonderful October!! Our Gala Committee continued planning for a successful Distinguished Rotarian Celebration (Gala)- October 17.
We were so honored to spend time to celebrate the commitment of our dear Rotarian members- Mike Deputy and Gene Banks. Kudos to the Gala Planning Committee- Led by Tom Thatcher and Joan Sharp with wonderful - in-depth support of our Executive Director Jacqui Voland and Duane Millard, Paul Stringham, Jeff Young, Kristy Walker, Denise Johnson, Paula Fellingham, Chris Davison, Vicky Davison and so many of you that supported set up and take down of the event!!
We netted close to $190,000, to support our club and foundation substantially- therefore positively impacting our work and the communities we serve. If you didn't have a chance to see the videos, a gallery of pictures and the videos are in further down in the newsletter.
Rotary In Action - Manufacturing Day with Franklin Elementary Students
The National Association of Manufacturers celebrates factories who are in the manufacturing business each fall. YESCO Custom Electric Signs invited the fifth grade of Franklin Elementary to tour its factory and operations in coordination with events like these all over the country. The International Sign Association (ISA) has embraced this program for many years. After the invitation was extended, the school responded that they likely couldn’t do the field trip – unless the sixth grade joined them! The Youngs were overjoyed to have all of them involved!
2025 Distinguished Rotarian Celebration Videos and Photo Gallery
What a wonderful evening of celebration! Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate and recognize our 2025 Distinguished Rotarians, Gene Banks and Mike Deputy. The images below will take you to the award videos for Mike and Gene and the third to a photo gallery slide show.
Thank you to everyone for their support and generosity during the event.
A special thanks go out to our donors, sponsors and vendors who made the evening possible many of whom are Rotarians and own a business.
Mike Deputy receiving the 2025 Distinguished Rotarian Award.
Dear Fellow Rotarians. Are you a veteran? We would like to honor you during our Veterans Day luncheon this coming Tuesday,
If you are veteran, please call Don Weakley to share your service story and email Don - weakley1984@gmail.com a current photo of you and a photo of you in your uniform.
We are pleased to welcome new member Jill Dempsey to the club. Jill will make a personal introduction on Nov 11 during our membership meeting.
Please join us in welcoming Jill to the Club.
We also look forward to hearing soon from Rachel Benator and Luz Carreno in the coming weeks.
Celebration of Life Concert - Jeff Whiteley
Join Excellence in the Community for a special evening celebrating the life and legacy of Jeff Whiteley, founder of Excellence in the Community and a visionary who changed Utah’s musical landscape.
Jeff believed that music has the power to connect, uplift, and transform communities. Through his dedication, more than 1,400 free concerts have brought Utah’s finest musicians to professional stages, building bridges between artists and audiences across the state.
This Celebration of Life Concert brings together the musicians, friends, and community members who were touched by Jeff’s generosity, leadership, and spirit. The evening will feature live performances, shared memories, and a heartfelt tribute to a man whose work continues to resonate through every note played.
Sign Up for November and December Service Projects
Service Projects in November & December
November 12 - serving a meal to veterans at Valor House on Nov 12. Thank you to Kristy Walker for setting up this event. The volunteer roster is full, but we look forward to sharing our experience with you in the December newsletter.
Sub for Santa - Thanks to Linda Kruse for stewarding the Sub for Santa program again this year. We have 15 families that the club will be assisting. If you would be interested in participating in our Franklin Elementary Sub for Santa program, please contact Linda Kruse.
Fellow Rotarian, Laura Hadley, Executive Director for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation needs volunteers and invites you to attend the Taste of Utah Gala on Nov 22. To volunteer or purchase tickets follow the link. Rotarian Chris Lake and Lux Events are one of the vendors participating at the Grand America this year. Let's support our partners and fellow Rotarians!
New partners Prog Dev and One Kind Act a Day need help with reviewing student resumes and teaching a class at the prison.
Prog Dev
This is an opportunity to participate in the PROG Dev Center's Perfecting the Resume Career Support Workshop. We are needing 3-4 volunteers to review participant resumes and provide feedback for improvement. https://prognationcommunity.as.me/MockInterviews
One Kind Act a Day - Service opportunity teaching a class at the prison. If you are interested in learning more reach out to Jacqui, and she will connect you with the foundation representative.
A message from District Governor - Suzanne Leonelli Wilhelm
On Sunday, December 1st, we invite every Rotarian across Utah Rotary District 5420 to join in something extraordinary — our District Day of Service: Pausing with Purpose. On this day, we’re asking you to stop — even for a moment — and do one random act of kindness.
It doesn’t need to be planned, perfect, or grand. It just needs to be real. Hold the door. Pay for a stranger’s meal. Write a note of gratitude. Sit beside someone who needs to be seen. Whatever you do, do it with love — and with purpose.
You’ll be given a small Pause with Purpose card to leave behind with the person you touch that day — a gentle reminder that kindness still moves among us, and an invitation for them to carry it forward. Together, these cards become more than paper.
They become stories — of compassion, connection, and courage. They become proof that Rotary hearts, when united for good, can move mountains through moments. Please capture your act of kindness — in a photo, a video, or a short paragraph — and share it.
We’ll collect every story, every image, every spark of goodness, and weave them together into one incredible portrait of what it means to pause with purpose. Let’s see how many hearts we can touch. How many smiles we can spark. How many lives we can impact — together.
This movement was inspired by our Area Governor, Logan Palmer.
On December 1st, let’s show Utah — and the world — what happens when Rotary pauses with purpose and unites for good.
With heart and gratitude,
District Governor
Suzanne Leonelli Willhelm
Club Approval of District Governor Elect Nomination for Scott Rosenbush.
Dear members, Scott has requested from the board their approval to put forth his name as an applicant for District Governor Nominee. The Rotary Club of Salt Lake City board supports this nomination and respectfully requests the approval of the club by your simple Yes or No on the link below. Please respond by Nov 12.
Join Excellence in the Community for a special evening celebrating the life and legacy of Jeff Whiteley, founder of Excellence in the Community and a visionary who changed Utah’s musical landscape.
On Sunday, December 1st, we invite every Rotarian across Utah Rotary District 5420 to join in something extraordinary — our District Day of Service: Pausing with Purpose. On this day, we’re asking you to stop — even for a moment — and do one random act of kindness.
