Josh Linehan, Founder/Owner, Brookings Beacon
Brookings Rotarians Marcia and Larry Jansen. Larry is wearing a sweater from a recent Scandinavian trip, and Marcia is holding a replica of a street in Bergen,Norway.
Rotarians Marcia and Larry Janssen
SDSU Women’s Soccer Coach Brock Thompson and Player Shelby Hopeau Inspire Rotary with Message of Growth, Family, and "True Mental Toughness"
District Governor Visits Brookings Rotary, Urges Members to “Unite for Good,” Grow Membership, and Power the Final Push to End Polio
Brookings Rotarians were able to celebrate along with her as Mayor Niemeyer proclaimed September 2, 2025, as Millie Juel Day in Brookings. Millie is moving away from Brookings to be closer to family and we'll miss her dearly.SDSU Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bryan Petersen Speaks to Brookings Rotary Club
SDSU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH DAN JACKSON ADDRESSES BROOKINGS ROTARY CLUB
The Brookings Rotary Club donated 35 new backpacks to the Brookings Family Back2School Project, the Brookings County program that provides free school supplies to families in need. Club member Michael Gondo is shown with the backpacks.
This service project for Brookings Rotary commemorates weekly speakers in lieu of a gift. The backpacks are made possible through donations from Rotary members.
Rotarians focus on “Service Above Self,” but they also emphasize fellowship and camaraderie. So after several years of successful “Thirsty Thursday” events scheduled on the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m., the club now has added another opportunity for both service and fun, this one geared toward early risers.“Wake-up Wednesday” was launched in January, and is held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 a.m. The idea came from the club’s President-elect Devan Schaefer.
“We have been meeting every month for several years for Thirsty Thursday, enjoying fellowship and a beverage with fellow Rotarians and guests,” said Schaefer, “and also informally collecting funds for local non-profit organizations. But some of our members couldn’t make it at that time of day, so we thought we would add another option for folks who are either on their way to work or just like their cup of morning Joe!”
Response has been great, and area non-profits are reaping the benefits. Voluntary donations are collected at both Thirsty Thursday and Wake-up Wednesday for a different organization each month, and adding the second monthly event has given more people the opportunity to support the community. Last year the total amount collected during Thirsty Thursdays was $1,794. By adding only six months of Wake-up Wednesdays, this year’s total at the end of June was $2,272. Twelve different groups benefitted: Delta Dental Van, Boys & Girls Club, South Dakota Humanities Council, Brookings Backpack Program, Disabled American Veterans, Feeding Brookings, Brookings Food Pantry, Madison Food Pack, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Brookings Humane Society/Animal Shelter, Harvest Table and the Domestic Abuse Shelter.
Wake-up Wednesdays are held the third Wednesday of each month at Kool Beans beginning at 7:30 a.m. Thirsty Thursdays are the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m. at various locations in the community. Guests are always warmly welcomed. For more information contact Schaefer at First Bank & Trust or any Rotarian, or visit the club’s website at www.brookingsrotary.org
Officers and directors were installed at the Brookings Rotary Club on July 1 during the first meeting of the Rotary year. President Jennifer Olson will return as president, assisted by her Presidential Team, who will conduct weekly meetings and oversee club leadership. Congratulations to all, and thank you for stepping up to leadership as we pursue Service Above Self!
2025-26 officers and directors, from left: Chad Vilhauer, treasurer; Del Johnson, secretary; Deb DeBates, director; Gregg Jongeling, director; Cindy Mydland, director; Jennifer Olson, president. Not pictured are Ann Volin, director, and Devon Schaefer, president-elect.
2025-26 Presidential Team, from left: Jennifer Olson, Mary Kidwiler, Brian Gatzke and Ginger Thomson. Not pictured is Victoria Blatchford.
Past President Michael Gonda leads the installation of President Jennifer Olson. She received a Rotary clock as a gift of appreciation for her previous year's leadership, and then presented the gavel to first quarter President Team leader Mary Kidwiler.
Congratulations to eight Brookings Rotarians who received their Paul Harris Fellow-Plus pins at the July 1 meeting. A Paul Harris Fellow is one who has donated at least $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation (TRF), or for whom someone else has donated $1,000 in his or her name. Those who have achieved “Paul Harris Plus” status reflect the $1,000 donation repeated in subsequent years. Donations to TRF go to help with projects in one of seven areas of global and community service: Promoting Peace; Fighting Disease; Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; Savings Mothers and Children; Supporting Education; Growing Local Economies; and Protecting the Environment. Pictured standing from left are: Della Tschetter (plus 7); Del Johnson (plus 3); Mary Kidwiler (plus 2); Larry Janssen (plus 6); and Brad Blaha (plus 8). Seated is Lewayne Erickson (plus 4). Not available for the picture were Cathy Voelzke (plus 4) and Bob Fishback (plus 4).
Professional dental care can prevent oral disease, improve overall health and even improve self-esteem. But for some area children, dental care is unavailable because of financial constraints, lack of insurance or geographic limitations.
The Delta Dental Mobile Program, in partnership with the Brookings Area United Way, offers state-of-the-art dental care “on-the-road,” equipped with dental chairs, x-ray machines, and all the necessary tools for dentists and technicians to alleviate dental problems for children. Services include preventive care like cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatments; diagnostic services such as exams and x-rays; and restorative care including fillings and extractions. Professionals also are able to educate the children and their parents about the importance of regular dental hygiene and check-ups.
The Brookings Rotary Club is sponsoring one full week of Delta Dental services for area children, thanks to a $3,527 grant from District 5610 that was matched by the local club. In addition to the financial support, Rotarians are spending four afternoons throughout the year packing 1,000 dental kits that are given to children and their families, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash and floss. And to make the visits a little more fun, Rotarians also are sponsoring coloring books and crayons for the children.
Heidi Gullickson, Brookings Area United Way executive director, noted that the Rotary grant is allowing more children access to the dental care they need.
“The Delta Dental Mobile Program brings quality care right to our community for those who do not have access to a dentist. This program removes barriers and builds healthy futures. Access to this type of care cuts down on missed school days and missed workdays for the parents,” said Gullickson.
Gullickson added that when a child is suffering from dental issues, there are ramifications beyond the obvious. “We all know the discomfort and pain that is associated with dental issues, but we often forget about the ripple effect that it can have. When a child is in pain, their nutrition suffers, their sleep suffers, and their ability to concentrate and learn suffers.” At a recent Delta Dental appointment day, 45 children and young people under the age of 21 were treated with services valued at more than $39,000.
Brookings Rotarian Michael Gonda, who wrote the grant, noted that this is exactly the type of community project Rotary is pleased to support. “By partnering with the United Way and Delta Dental, we are able to combine resources and expertise to make this a very impactful project for area children,” Gonda said. “Young people with access to proper medical and dental care are more successful and better positioned to grow into adults who will someday give back to the community that supported them.
“Brookings Rotary is very proud to support area children with the Delta Dental project, and we look forward to more opportunities for similar projects in the future,” added Gonda.
For more information about the Delta Dental Mobile Program, contact the Brookings Area United Way at 605-692-4979.
Young children in three new early childhood education spaces within the Brookings School District will have fun while they are learning, thanks to activity boards funded and built by Brookings Rotarians.
These activity boards will allow children ages three to five to “fidget” safely while standing in line or playing in a collaborative space, helping them to explore devices mounted on pegboard, such as lock and key, light switches, faucets, padlocks, rulers and more. Playing with the items mounted on the boards also will help these young children with their small motor skills development.
The boards were funded by a Rotary District 5610 grant, with matching funds provided by the Brookings club. Rotarians collected the devices, bought what they needed to supplement the boards, and gathered one afternoon in a club member’s garage to build the boards and mount the gadgets.
The concept for the project originated with Rotarian Deb DeBates, who also serves on the Brookings School Board. DeBates wrote the $300 grant, which was approved earlier this year. “The first five years of life are a time of rapid brain growth,” said DeBates, a retired educator. “Stimulating experiences boost brain development and lay the foundation for learning.” The boards will be installed over the summer at the early childhood education spaces being offered this fall in three local elementary schools through a collaboration of the Brookings School District and the Boys and Girls Club of Brookings.
“The activity boards will impact more than 100 children the first year and many more over the course of time,” DeBates said. “This is a small way our Rotary Club can show support for the children in our school district as we continue to focus on preparing all young learners for kindergarten.”
Congratulations to Brookings Rotarian Della Tschetter, left, who received her Paul Harris-Plus 6 pin at a recent club meeting, presented by Club President Jennifer Olson. A Paul Harris Fellow is one who has donated at least $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation (TRF), or for whom someone else has donated $1,000 in his or her name. Those who have achieved “Paul Harris Plus” status reflect the $1,000 donation repeated in subsequent years. Donations to TRF go to help with projects in one of seven areas of global and community service: Promoting Peace; Fighting Disease; Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene; Savings Mothers and Children; Supporting Education; Growing Local Economies; and Protecting the Environment.
Each year the Brookings Rotary Club awards six $1,000 scholarships to area high school seniors who will attend South Dakota State University. Funds for the scholarships are collected throughout the year from “Scholar Dollars” collected at weekly club meetings from members wishing to share announcements, family celebrations and other positive comments.
Scholarship recipients are chosen by selection committees at Brookings High School, Elkton High School, Sioux Valley High School and Deubrook High School.
Congratulations to this year’s winners Ella VanSloten, Deubrook High School; Maya Jensen, Elkton High School; Easton Overbo, Sioux Valley High School; Connor May, Michelle Huh and Alexander Storhaug, Brookings High School.
Rotarians had a beautiful morning to help the United Way refresh the Born Learning Trails at Hillcrest Park! A Rotary grant several years ago helped pay for the interactive outdoor family activity in locations throughout Brookings, and committed to helping maintain the sidewalk artwork with new paint as needed. Well done, Rotarians! Children in our community continue to enjoy and grow from this project.
Brookings, SD 57006
United States of America