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Are you interested in serving others and learning about your community while having fun and making new friends?

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Rotarians are people from all walks of life who want to make positive changes in their community and the world. Our Club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship, and also enjoy being a part of global initiatives like the eradication of polio, clean water resources, support for mental health, and education - local projects and a global impact. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of folks who share your desire to give back.

Our motto is SERVICE ABOVE SELF!

Kelly Beinhorn named Rotary Paul Harris Fellow

Congratulations to Brookings Rotarian Kelly Beinhorn, left, who received her Paul Harris Fellow pin at this week's 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. 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. Congratulations, Kelly!

Congratulations to two new Paul Harris Fellows

Congratulations to Brookings Rotarians Lisa Roker and Devan Schaefer, who received their Paul Harris Fellow pins at this week's 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. 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. Lisa currently serves the club as Membership Chair ad Devan is the club's President-Nominee.

Rotarian Kelsey presents on two Chamber initiatives

Thanks to our own Rotarian Kelsey Doom, President and CEO of the Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce, for an informative program this week on two Chamber initiatives. The National Civics Bee seeks to encourage young Americans in middle school grades to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Winners of local essay contests will advance to in-person question and answer events, leading to state finals and a national competition. Students in area school districts are participating, and eligible for cash prizes. Kelsey also provided information about a Chamber-sponsored travel opportunity to Greece next October. For more information about either program, contact the Brookings Chamber. Thanks, Kelsey, for a great program!

State Rep. Mellissa Heerman speaks to Rotarians

Thank you to South Dakota District 7 Representative Mellissa Heermann for her presentation to the Brookings Rotary Club this week. Rep. Heermann provided an update on state legislature activity and bills that will likely be discussed in the upcoming session.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE JANUARY 2025

Happy New Year! I greatly enjoy saying this to friends and family for the next several weeks. I do NOT limit
the phrase for only the first few days of the new year. I encourage each of you to say Happy New Year instead
of goodbye and hello for the next several weeks. It brings smiles to many faces.

Many of the customs of the New Year observe the passing of time with both anticipation and regret. The baby
as a symbol of the new upcoming year and the old man representing the year that has passed. The Romans
originated the month of January from their god Janus, who had 2 faces – one looking backward and the other
looking forward. Thus – this a great time of year to reflect on what we – as Rotarians – have accomplished in
the past year and what we plan to do for the upcoming year.

Last year in 2024: Harvest Table, Brookings Marathon, Hillcrest School Medary School Move, Habitat for
Humanity, Brookings Backpack, Feeding Brookings, Salvation Army Ring the Bells, Suicide Help Talk to
Teachers, many Thirsty Thursdays, Painted Born Learning Trails, Food Drives, Coat Drives, SDSU
scholarships, School of St. Jude student support…just to name a few.

As we look backwards – Brookings Rotary Club had a very successful year in “Service Above Self” and
impacting lives of others.

Upcoming in 2025: The sky is the limit! Plans are in the works for packing kits for Delta Denta Van, packing
food for refugee camps in Chad, Africa, Feeding Brookings, Backpack Program, Brookings Marathon, activity
walls for Brookings Schools and the possibility of many more opportunities to help others.
I am excited, as I hope you as Brookings Rotarians are, about the projects and plans that we can do to provide
“Service Above Self” to our community and the world.

We have all heard the many things about new year’s: goals, resolutions, yearly aspirations and new habits
that we want/should set. Many times our new year’s resolutions are self-focused – exercise more, eat
healthier, read more books, etc. This year – I challenge each of you to set a different type of New Year’s
resolution to think about others and how you can impact their lives. These goals may be small ones – such as
giving a smile everyday to a stranger or buying a cup of coffee for the person in line behind you. OR – maybe
loftier goals of helping others by volunteering at a local non-profit or church. Rotary is about “Service Above
Self” and starting out the year with our Rotary motto is a great way to set a your resolution / goal for the year.
If you has a Brookings Rotarian have an idea on how and where we can help others and you see a need in the
community, please pass along the word!

2025 and tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book, so us as Rotarians need to write a good book
for the upcoming year. And we can title it “Service Above Self."

Happy New Year!
President Jen Olson

New members welcomed into Brookings Rotary

The Brookings Rotary Club warmly welcomes new member Lori Schutz, pictured here receiving her Four-Way Test plaque from Club President Jen Olson. At the same meeting, we heard from new member Alexis Stolicker, who told us a little bit about herself and her goals for sharing in Rotary service. Welcome, Lori and Alexis!

HO! HO! HO! Rotarians ring bell for Salvation Army

Members of the Brookings Rotary Club had a great time ringing the bell for the Brookings Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive! Here are a few pictures - thanks to all who participated, and Merry Christmas!

SDSU Foundation Development VP updates club on Foundation

Our thanks to Keith Mahlum, SDSU Foundation Vice President for Development, for a very interesting program on fundraising. The Foundation has been providing long-term resources for SDSU since 1945, focusing on the ICARE values: Integrity, Communication, Accountability, Relationships and Excellence. Thanks, Keith, for joining us!

December programs delight us with the performing arts

Programs so far in December have focused on the performing arts...no surprise, since this month's program chair is Dr. David Reynolds! This week we learned about the 2025 season offerings for Prairie Repertory Theatre from Artistic Director Billy Wilburn. Audiences can look forward to attending four great shows: Grease, Romeo & Juliet (to be performed on Sylvan Green!), the British farce Out of Order, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. And earlier in December, Rotarians were treated to the sounds of the season with a wonderful performance by SDSU's Statesmen, directed by Dr. Andrew Robinette. Thanks to all who bring this world class entertainment to our community!

Bobcat Plains Academy is topic of Rotary Club presentation

Many thanks to speaker Michelle Vande Weerd, Brookings School District Director of Academic Services and Special Programs, for her interesting presentation on the Bobcat Plains Academy. We enjoyed hearing more about this important educational option, Michelle!

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE DECEMBER 2024

December is known for Christmas! My favorite part of Christmas is the Christmas tree. There are so many
reasons to love Christmas trees! The greenness of the tree livens up our lives and living rooms and gives us
some color, which is greatly needed in South Dakota winters because it is either white outside or gloomy
brown. The green reminds of to be full of life and happiness and eternal love. Decorating the tree is a tradition
that all households who have a tree get to experience. Maybe your family decorates it all together with the
kids, parents and grandparents. Or maybe it is done by one person in the house and it gives them time to
reflect and enjoy the quiet.

The history of the Christmas tree can be traced back centuries from central Europe, particularly Germany,
Estonia and Latvia where Protestant Christians brought trees into their homes to be decorated with apples,
sweets, wafers, and candles. In today’s fast pace world, the candles have been replace with strings of lights
and the apples replaced by Christmas balls and the sweets/wafers replaces with pretty decorations.

December and the Christmas season is also known as the time of giving, which is the foundation of what
Rotary is built upon. Rotarians should embody our motto – Service Above Self. This motto can take on so
many different aspects from volunteering your time, providing knowledge and experience to push forward
Rotary’s goals, donating money towards projects around the world or locally. It is easy this time of year to give
back. Brookings Rotarians will be Ringing the Bells for the Salvation Army on December 9 th for the Red Kettle
Campaign to raise funds for food assistance, homeless shelters, and emergency financial support.

Other ways that we - as Rotarians - can lend a hand in our area: Feeding Brookings, Project Joy, Food Pantry,
and Angel Trees just to name a few. I challenge each of you to “lend a hand” this Christmas Season.
Donating funds is also highly needed with so many of our fellow Americans struggling to get by. Giving
Tuesday is on December 3rd and is a global generosity movement to unleash the power of radical generosity. It
was created to have a day that encourages people to do good. It is a day to give back to others and promote
the benefits of philanthropy and charitable actions. Visit the Rotary Foundation website to witness the “good”
that we are doing as Rotarians around the world. While at www.rotary.org feel free to make a donation by
clicking the Donate button on the upper right of the webpage.

December will be a short month of Rotary Tuesday meetings with the last 2 weeks of Tuesdays being
cancelled due to Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Take some extra time that is being given back to you
and “do some good.”

Merry Christmas! Enjoy the season of giving and experience the joy and happiness that is felt when giving.
And yes, it is okay to receive…we all love opening and receiving presents! I believe that we all are children at
heart during Christmas.

Happy Holidays! Spread Good Cheer Wherever Your Life Takes You!

President Jen Olson

Keith Bartels receives PHF-Plus 1 pin

Congratulations to Brookings Rotarian Keith Bartels, who received his Paul Harris Fellow-Plus 1 pin at this week's 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.

Brookings Rotary Club welcomes new member Cindy Mydland

Brookings Rotary Club President Jen Olson, right, welcomes new member Cindy Mydland and presents her with a copy of the Four-Way Test. Cindy, retired from a career in healthcare, is eager for the community service and fellowship opportunities that Rotary offers. Welcome, Cindy!

New member Roxanne Wicks looks forward to Rotarian service

Thanks to new member Roxanne Wicks for sharing with the club about her background and passion for service. We look forward to working with you in the spirit of Rotary "Service Above Self!"

Rotarian Brad Blaha updates club on The Rotary Foundation

So often some of our best programs are presented by our own members! Thanks to Brookings Club Foundation Chair Brad Blaha for presenting an update on The Rotary Foundation. TRF is the philanthropic organization that empowers Rotarians and others to do good works in their own communities and around the world. Thanks for a great program, Brad!

Miss Siouxland Visits Brookings Rotary

Jamee Kattner, Miss Siouxland and a Miss South Dakota contestant, spoke to the Brookings Rotary Club about the history of the Miss America Pageant, and her platform of spreading joy through music. She is a music education major at SDSU from Huron. Thank you for visiting with us, Jamee, and best wishes!

A busy week for Brookings Rotarians!

Brookings Rotarians and guests filled the community room at Peaceful Pines Senior Living for our regular weekly meeting on Nov. 5, as we met off-site due to the Brookings Activity Center serving as a polling place. Executive Director Autumn Cogdill gave the presentation on Brookings' newest senior living option, and many Rotarians toured the facility, which includes independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Then later in the week, Rotarians met at Ray's Corner for Thirsty Thursday, enjoying fellowship and raising $160 for Disabled American Veterans. Rotarians love to know more about their community and support local efforts!

President's Message November 2024

Welcome to November!

The year as Brookings Rotary Club President is flying by. I am enjoying it immensely.

October continued to be a busy month for Brookings Rotary - starting with Thirsty Thursday on October 3 at
Jim’s Tap, which raised $115 for the Brookings Backpack Program. On Monday, October 7, Brookings Rotary
Club sponsored six SDSU students for Bum-A-Meal at Michael and Tiffany Gonda’s house. Numerous
Rotarians donated food, prizes and gift bags and fun was had by all. It was a good opportunity for us - as
Rotarians - to plant seeds with young adults about Rotary and maybe someday…..they will become Rotarians
themselves. Finally on Friday, October 25, Brookings Rotary hosted Gemma Sisia and Dr. Suleman from The
School of St. Jude in Tanzania. It was a wonderful event with many in attendance with Rotarians from Madison
SD, Marshall MN, Sioux Falls SD, Rapid City SD, Watertown SD, Brookings SD and friends from The Landing
in Brookings SD.

The School of St. Jude is located in Tanzania Africa. It was founded in 2003 with 3 students and graduated 60
in the inaugural class in 2015. Today, the school has more than 1,800 students who are provided a free,
quality education through scholarships from generous donations. Each student comes from a considerably
poor (poverty) background. The School of St. Jude’s mission is to fight poverty through education.

Currently, our Club and it’s members provide scholarships for:
Gregg & Vi Jongeling and Brookings Rotary Club Sponsor 1 child for $2,640/year
Marcia & Larry Janssen Sponsor ½ child for $1,320/year
Doug & Mary Malo Sponsor ½ child for $1,320/year

Gemma Sisia is the Founding Director of the school. During her visit on October 25, she provided a full
background history of the school and how children receive their scholarships. She was accompanied by one of
her inaugural graduates from 2015, Dr. Suleman who has gone on to college, medical school and is now
employed at the largest hospital in Tanzania as a General Practitioner in the Emergency Department. 97% of
St. Jude’s alumni go onto access higher education after secondary school. Of these alumni, 80% are working
in crucial sectors to ensure Tanzania’s prosperity, including engineering, health, education, information
technology, financing and accounting. To learn about this amazing school, see their website:
https://www.schoolofstjude.org/. If interested, visit with Gregg Jongeling for more information. AND…FYI,
there will be an Africa trip which will include a visit to The School of St. Jude in 2026. Pat Sutliff from The
Rushmore Club in Rapid City is a driving force for The School of St. Jude.

November is Rotary Foundation Month. This is a time when Rotary International highlights the importance of
supporting the Rotary Foundation, which is the charitable arm of Rotary International. All donations to the
foundation support humanitarian and educational programs locally and around the world. The Rotary
Foundation transforms more than 90% of its gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home
and globally. Every Rotarian is invited and encouraged to support the Annual Fund with a personal
contribution each year. https://www.rotary.org/en/foundation-build

Here are some examples of how your generous donation in the Rotary Foundation makes a difference:
 $100/year provides 3 backpacks filled with supplies for primary school children in Honduras.
 $100/year provided 50 malaria diagnostic tests to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria in Mali.
 $100/year provides 1 biosand filter and water-hygiene training for a family in Peru.
 $1,000/year provides 14 HIV antiretroviral drugs to prevent the transmission of HIV from injected
mothers to their babies in Liberia.
 $1,000/year provides 1 bicycle to play sports for youth with disabilities in France/
 $1,000/year provides sexual assault and domestic abuse education women in Texas.

The power of giving enriches lives – both the giver and the recipient. Giving activates the reward centers in the
brain and releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine and endorphins, producing what researchers call the
“helper’s high.” Giving also can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, boost self-esteem and lower depression
risk. By making you happier, giving back helps you live longer. While giving feels good, its deeper significance
is bringing help to those in need. Simple ways to give are donations, volunteering and performing acts of
kindness. Giving has the power to transform lives.

Remember Rotary’s Motto: Service Above Self.

President Jen Olson

WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS!

The Brookings Rotary Club is honored to welcome three new members, introduced to the membership at the Oct. 29 meeting. Club President Jen Olson, left, presented Four-Way Test plaques and new member information to Stacey VanBeek, Kayla Stuefen and Brad Hennings. Stacey, Kayla and Brad, we look forward to working side by side with you in "Service Above Self" in the Brookings community, with Rotary impact around the world!

Fighting Poverty Through Education

The Brookings Rotary Club hosted a very special reception Friday evening for members, guests, and visiting Rotarians to welcome Gemma Sisia, the founding director of The School of St. Jude in Tanzania, which is enthusiastically supported by Rotary and its clubs and members. Gemma is traveling throughout the state along with St. Jude alum Dr. Suleiman Mohammed, who is now a physician in one of Tanzania's most prestigious hospitals, to tell the amazing success story of the school. Gemma began The School of St. Jude, a privately funded school for extremely impoverished but bright youngsters in Tanzania, more than twenty years ago with only three students. Today the school serves 1,800 primary and secondary students on several campuses, and also supports university students. Scroll through these photos from our very special gathering last evening, and click here for more info on The School of St. Jude:

https://www.schoolofstjude.org/

Welcome to our Club!

We meet In Person & Online

Tuesdays at 12:00 PM

Brookings Activity Center

320 Fifth Ave
Brookings, SD
United States of America

RSVP by emailing Club President Jennifer Olson at jennifer.olson@ebankstar.bank. Our meetings and programs are currently being conducted via a hybrid system in person and via Zoom. Access opens 15 minutes early for a social time of sharing.

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