Local Rotary Club members make new friends and meet their neighbors
The Rotary Club of Millcreek - a community-based service, networking and social club – was chartered in affiliation with Rotary International on Nov. 16.
Less than a month after the group was organized, on Dec. 10, local Rotary Club members spent a Saturday afternoon cooking, eating and socializing with the refugee community at a holiday event held in neighboring South Salt Lake City.
Millcreek Rotary Club Service Chairperson Miriam Kramer said the event was the beginning of an ongoing partnership between club members and the refugee community.
She said social events, such as the holiday event held in December, are an opportunity for members of the local Rotary Club to learn from the refugee community while giving something back.
“We wanted to do something not as traditional, but still of benefit to the community,” Kramer said. “The catalyst for change is building friendships.”
About 75 people attended the nontraditional holiday feast hosted by the local Millcreek Rotary Club and the Bhutanese refugees. The event was held at the Columbus Center after local Rotary Club members spent time shopping for food and learning to cook traditional Bhutanese meals.
About 30 members of the Bhutanese refugee community participated in the holiday event. Of those, most currently live in the South Parc apartment complex.
The weekend afternoon holiday event began with a prayer invoked in Nepalese and featured a gourmet meal of vegetable curry, rice, roti (a traditional bread) and chai tea.
Rotary Club members brought warm clothing to donate to the refugee community that was collected during a winter clothing drive.
Kramer said many of the refugees have fled from religious persecution. She said although most of the refugees are of the Hindu faith and don’t celebrate Christmas, the holiday-time event allowed everyone the opportunity to be generous as they shared food and friendship.
“It was amazing,” she said.
In addition, dancers from Westminster College performed at the event and everyone listened to traditional Nepali music.
While still part of a larger, more traditional organization, the recently organized Rotary Club of Millcreek regards itself as a younger, fresher version of the group.
According to the local Millcreek Rotary Club Facebook page and blog, “We are Utah’s first ‘Happy Hour’ Rotary Club … No long program, no formality and no high cost. The aim is a member driven club that can harness the power of Rotary International to do good here and abroad.”
Kramer said membership in the newly-chartered local Rotary Club is growing and that members are full of fresh ideas for service in the community.
She said upcoming Rotary Club of Millcreek events will include more events with the South Salt Lake refugee community.
Residents can find more information on upcoming Rotary Club events through the website at http://rotaryclubof millcreek.blogspot.com.
