Christmas the Bhutanese way is a great way to spend an afternoon!

Check out the amazing video about this whole service project/social. Thanks, wonderful Miriam Kramer, RC Millcreek Community Service Chair!

To kick off our partnership, Millcreek Rotarians spent Saturday afternoon December 10 cooking, eating, partying with the Bhutanese refugee community - and a great time was had by all.

What a lot was going on! While the kitchen at the South Salt Lake Columbus Center was brimming with busy cooks, several Rotarians and Hser Ner Moo Welcome Center staff (thanks Raunde Everett!) set up the auditorium. Thanks, Sheila & Mary Gelman, Margareta Vlasic, Laura Rogers, Andrea White, Miriam Kramer, and Judy Zone for your help with this part of the event.
Soon the delicious scents of vegetable curry, a mixed vegetable dish, rice, roti, and chai tea filled the air, and our guests began to arrive. We want to thank the City Academy Interactors, their teacher Amanda Porter, their principal (RC Millcreek member) Sonia Woodbury for their help in bringing hundreds of warm coats and items of winter clothing for the distribution to our refugee friends. RC Millcreek members did their part too, bringing quite a supply. Andrea White got some amazing ski jackets donated from the U.S. ski team!

We want to thank Salt Lake Rotaract Club president Jerika Michel, and other Rotaracters, for helping with check-in and setting up our arts and crafts table for all the kids.

The Westminster Dancers provided some wonderful entertainment and then stayed around to play with all the kids from the refugee and Rotary communities.

Rotary Club of Millcreek members showed up in full force! President Megan Dunn was our emcee, along with her sister Lonna. Linda Book brought husband Bob.

Club Secretary Christine Christine Casper and her husband Darrin (also a member) were there. Marlin Clark helped with the sound system so we could listen to traditional Nepali music. Jason Collier brought the whole fam, as did Club Treasurer Ken Klingler. Sheila and Marty Gelman came for the cooking and stayed for the clean-up! Other members present: Sarah Grant, Kathryn Christiansen, Laura Rogers, Ron Stevens, Ladd Tanner & son, Margareta Vlasic (who brought a fabulous Scandinavian ginger cake!), Julia Wee, John and Judy Zone.

A special shout out to our International Service Chair, Peter Ingle, who brought his boys Gunnar and Anders, who ran the games, including Bingo with prizes. It was great to see Kamala (our incredible liaison with the Bhutanese community) explaining Bingo in Nepalese.

While we cannot thank enough Kamala and all the Bhutanese folks who prepared so much of the food ahead of time, cooked all morning with us, and stayed to enjoy the lunch, we must also thank Miriam Kramer (our Community Service Chair) for spending a huge amount of time organizing, delegating, and generally making the event a success.

Even members who could not be there were an important part of the event. Thanks, Social Chair Annie Nielsen, for the tablecloths, VP Laurie Summers-Pisani for the holiday decorations.

If you missed this event, you missed a great party! And you missed meeting some new friends in the Bhutanese community. Many thanks to Jarna Subedi, Pumpi Khatwodia, Radika Bhatrasai, Dueeka Dhankal, Kamala Bhatersai, Sabitrai Bhatersai, Bishnu Chapiuyam, Sabitra Pondyali, Ganga Adnakari, Tuiisha Subba, Damoduar Bhatterrai, Devi Rizail, Maya Bhattersai, Januka Charnigui, Priam Dhuali, Tuka Subedi, Purna Bhatrasai, Kharka Pudail, Tapash Bastola, Kumar Thurung, Indu Dhual, Denka Poskhal, Tulash Poshkal, Sumitra Lizal, Durga, Umi, Pabi and Ghana Chapigiya. AND your kids. Everyone was -- and had -- so much fun!

Enjoy some more photos of the event:

Jason Collier and Heather Klingler with kids at the arts & crafts table.

We want to thank Utah Rotary Governor Elect Jerry Summerhays for coming to our party with his granddaughter Adri.









Bob Book, John Zone, Marty Gelman enjoy the entertainment.

Gigantic warm clothing distribution!

Significant chopping and cooking.





Prospective member Jennie Ferguson, Ron Stevents, visiting Salt Lake Rotarian Rose Defa, RC Millcreek President Megan Dunn, Laura Rogers, and Marlin Clark.

Thanks Gunnar, Peter, Anders Ingle for the Bingo and other games to entertain our many young partiers!

For at least half those present, this was our very first Invocation in Hindu.

Many beautiful items, handmade by the Bhutanese community, were on sale. Perfect holiday gift shopping!