Custer Rotary Club 

In the Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota

Program Committees
July= Jim Meyer, Fred HLava, Greg Giese
August=  Frank Urrutia
September=  John Carson, Charley Najacht,     
October=  Kathy Scheibe, Rob McWhorter
November=    Mark Naugle,  Monica McGowen, 
December= Karen Kraus , Marguarite Cullum, Michelle Fischer 
January=  Dan Hutt,, Kevin Larson
February=  Becky Hove, Dick Brown, Don Kraus    
March=   Patrick Argabright, Jason Ferguson 
April = Rex Jorgensen, Bonnie Ramer, 
May =  Mike Chase, Nathan Wiederholt,  Michelle Fischer   
June=   BJ Shipp , Curtis Tyler,  Verl Scheibe    
 
 
Directors
President
President Elect
Secretary
Treasurer
Director
Past President
Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Custer Rotary Club

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

We meet In Person
Mondays at 12:00 PM
Custer Senior Citizen's Center
538 Mt Rushmore Rd
Custer, SD 57730
United States of America
Home Page Stories

Welcome to our Rotary Club! 
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This website is for the use of the membership of Custer Rotary Club, it's leadership, and the public. Please browse the information, suggest additions and changes, or ask questions in "Contact Us". If you login as a member of our club, you can access additional club and club management information.

 

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to bring peace and stability to the world by providing water and sanitation, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, peace and conflict prevention/resolution. One of the major commitments is to eradicate polio from the face of the world. Our motto: Service Above Self.  

Please click  "Read More"!

 


 
Dr Ashok Kumar gave Custer Rotary an update on Rotary Internationals Polio Plus.  In assisting Rotary International to keep their pledge of $50 Million a year toward eradication of Polio, he asked for each member to contribute to the Polio Plus campaign.  
we passed the Polio Plus bowl and raised $271.00.  
 
 
Vice President Pat Argabright presenting a Rotary pen to our speaker Matt Fridell from Tallgrass Landscape Architecture speaking about the community's thoughts for the old grade school space. Custer School District Superintendent Mark Naugle spoke about up-coming plans for the school district.
 

 
 
$500.00 Rotary matching donation to Senior Meals was presented by Custer Rotary President, to Mary Ann Schmitz of the "Bingo Crowd" recently.  This will result in a $1000.00 total for seniors who need help with their meal costs. 
 
 
Rick and Sam ( and his lovely daughter) gave us a summary of history, and the growth of the Custer Search and Rescue unit.  This has evolved into a highly technical organization with the most up to date equipment, and abilities. There are 40 some members, of highly trained individuals that have done a spectacular job.  Thanks so much!!  
Custer Rotary donated $500 to Search and Rescue.  


 
President of Custer's Youth & Alumni Foundation Lea Ann McWhorter, spoke to the membership about the good work they do for scholarships for our graduating students and for special classroom needs for the teachers in our school district.
 
Steve Hone Retired Master Chief from US Navy gave a very interesting program of live on the aircraft carrier deck.  He was a "Green Shirt" involved with operating  and maintaining all aircraft launch and recovery equipment and performed all support equipment and aircraft-related maintenance. Thanks for your service Steve!  
 
 
 
 
Retired Lt. Col. John Heaton shared with the Custer Rotary Club, some of his activities and duties while active. In addition, he shared some of the contracting he has been doing with drones.  I'm sure there is much more that he can't tell, but he kept everyone very interested.  Thanks for your service and contribution John!
 
A BIG thanks to all showed up at the Custer Care and Rehab Center for prepping the number 1 hall and room!!!!!  Another thanks to Rotarians Janet Boyer, and Monica McGowen for spearheading the action!! the pictures above show our Rotarians in Action!! 
Thanks, was a fun day!   
 
Custer Rotary President Rob McWhorton presents a gift of appreciation to Senior Center Executive director, Jodi Niksic for a job well done!  Thanks Jodi!!  
 
Custer County Librarian, Sarah Meyers explains to the Custer Rotary Club, all the goings on with the library. She explained all the different activities in both Custer and Hermosa that the library has and is doing.  
 
A gift of appreciation! 
 
 
 
 
Librarian Sarah accepts a donation of $500 from Custer Rotary President Rob McWhorton.  
Chuck Johnson, Superintendent of the Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home for the last year and a half, gave us some insight as to the history, and the goings on at the Veterans Home in Hot Springs.  Currently it is experiencing staffing challenges, in order to keep up with the need. 
It's a great asset to those Veterans and spouses that are able to be there.  Thanks for what you and your staff does to take care of those that need it!  
 
District Gov. Rich Burns, shares with the Custer Rotary Club some of his areas of focus, such as suggestion of a signiture project, and revamping the District website to include small video clips from clubs.  He shared also some thoughts on participation, and membership.  He commented on the Rotary International Presidents focus on erasing the stigma of mental health, and staying focused on eradicating Polio, hand how important it is to continue working for eradication.  
DG Burns also reminded us of the 7 areas of focus for Rotary. 
  • Promoting peace. Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. ...
  • Fighting disease. ...
  • Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. ...
  • Saving mothers and children. ...
  • Supporting education. ...
  • Growing local economies. ...
  • Protecting the environment.
 
Thanks for the insight DG Burns!! 
 
DG Rich Burns presenting Custer Rotary Club President Rob McWhorter this years Presidential Banner, " Create Hope in the World" 
 
DG Burns and wife Kelly receiving a gift from Custer Senior Center staff, Director Jodi Niksic, and Board member Janet Woytossek for the grant which allowed Custer Rotary to assist in getting the elevator for the Custer Senior Center.
 
DG Rich Burns and Custer Rotary President Rob McWhorter, presents a check for $500 from Custer Rotary Club to Custer YMCA Director ( and Custer Rotary Member) Rex Jorgensen!  
 
Dr Mark Hogg, gave the club a first hand narrative of his and several members of his family, being on Maui, near Lahaina during the devastating fires.  They experienced several days of electrical outage, and high winds. Fortunately they were upwind of the fires.  If they had not stopped at the Walmart upon arrival before going to their vacation rental, they would have been out of food for most of the week!  Thankfully, they were able to eventually get a flight out after several cancellations and rebookings and at one point, the 6 family members spending a night in their van.  We are thankful you and your family were able to escape without any injuries!  
Mike Chase, Custer Rotary Treasurer for 28 years, is awarded a special plaque for his many years of community and club involvement.  Mike has donated countless hours to community service, and dedication to our club.  He also was given a Paul Harris Foundation award, his fourth, in honor of his many years of Rotary work! 
Thanks Mike, you are an inspiration to us all!  
 
Speakers
Cory Virtue
Dec 11, 2023
Christmas for Kids presentation
Rotary Christmas Party
Dec 18, 2023
Gift exchange value =/< $25. Chicken dinner $14 plate
CUSTER HONORED ROTARIANS
HONORED ROTARIANS
Roy Roadifer
We Honor Past President Rotarian, Roy Roadifer, he passed away on 8 Dec, 2020. We remember Roy, as a loyal Rotarian, a knowledgeable geologist, always explaining things about the Black Hills, and a wonderful Humanitarian. He was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Roy had been an active member for over 26 years and had over 19 years of perfect attendance. He had served in Okinawa during WW2. 
To his wife Ramona, and family, our condolences. 
Jill Kettle
We Honor Past President Rotarian, Jill Kettle, who passed away unexpectedly on November 16th.  Jill's constant smile and can do attitude was always there as she got things done!  She was a hard working Rotarian that lead by example! Jill was an active member of Custer Rotary since 2014. Her leadership at the Custer Senior Center kept it vibrant, and alive. Jill was very active in several local service organizations.  She was always giving of herself to help others, a Paul Harris Fellow and True Rotarian. Our Sympathies to Ron and her family, and the dogs she loved.   
Sue Brown
We Honor Past Custer Rotarian Board member, Sue Brown. Sue passed away May 10th.  She will be remembered for her wonderful smile, and the many who were touched by her generosity, and kindness.  
She served on the Boards of many nonprofit organizations in the fields of education, housing, and women’s issues including the Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment Commission, South Dakota Housing Development Authority, YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, United Way and Volunteers of America.  She also served on the Boards of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Rotary.  She served two terms on the Sioux Falls School Board, worked as a financial services representative for her husband’s business and became President/CEO the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation in 1995.  She retired from that position in 2006.  Both the School Board and Community Foundation were works that matched Sue’s passions, and she considered these opportunities two of the turning points in her life.
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