Home Page | Rotary Club of Rapid City Rushmore

Rushmore Rotary is a local club composed of inspired individuals who translate their passions into relevant social causes to change lives in our community. We were organized in March 1986 and currently have 90 members. Rushmore Rotary Meetings are held every Tuesday morning at 7am at Elevation Inn & Suites, 950 North Street, Rapid City, SD. Virtual Zoom meeting logins are available.

We also have an Impact Club, a service-oriented arm of Rushmore Rotary that meets every second and fourth Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Zymurcracy, 4624 Creek Drive #6, Rapid City, SD. This is a good option for anyone who can't make it to a morning meeting.

Press here to contact our President or membership chairperson for a zoom invite or to find out how to join.

For information about Rotary International visit Home | Rotary International

December 9, 2025 Meeting

Today was Rotary Day.

We welcomed our newest member, Amber Berry. She received her Rotary pin, and temporary name badge.

Amber grew up in eastern Minnesota and joined the Air Force right after high school. She was

stationed at Ellsworth and deployed to Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. During

her time in the Air Force, she met her husband, who is from Pennsylvania. They’ve been

married for 15 years and decided to settle in Rapid City, making it their home.

After separating from the Air Force, she attended nursing school through USD East River. She

currently works at Monument Health in the Progressive Care Unit, where she’s involved in

various councils and committees, and she truly enjoys it.

They have a 15-month-old daughter named Aubrey, who is the joy of Amber’s life. They also have an 11-year-old lab named Newt, and a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois named Loki, who is her

husband’s K9 partner. Her husband serves as the Sergeant for the West River K9

Program, focusing on drug interdiction.

She’s a bit of a nerdy jock—she loves reading, likes Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Star

Trek (Next Gen). She enjoys working out and still plays volleyball, basketball, and softball. She

also loves the outdoors! She spends time hiking, backpacking, kayaking, hunting, fishing,

archery, and skiing.

And because she’s not sure how to end a bio...

“And that’s all I got to say about that” -Forest Gump

Welcome Amber!

A Paul Harris Fellow was gifted to Mikaela Leners of the Impact Club by Jennifer Rollins for her tireless work on training programs at Pine Ridge for human trafficking. Congratulations!

2026-2027 Officers Elected

Kyle Bargmann - President Elect

Kim Nearhood - Secretary

Deb Niemi - 2 Year Board Term

Jeff Meyer. - 2 Year Board Term

Deb Kjerstad - 1 year Board Term

Bylaw Change

President Roger Heacock has reviewed the bylaws and is recommending one change to the board. It will be presented to the membership in next week’s email before being presented to the board.

December 2, 2025 Meeting

Our speaker today was our own John Cass, Executive Director of United Way of the Black Hills. United Way was started to help raise money for nonprofits so they can concentrate on their missions. They are shifting towards training for leadership of nonprofits. Their Bridges to Boards program is designed for senior nonprofit staff, current and aspiring board members. They are also focusing on the working poor living just above the poverty level. This added advocacy role will work to bring awareness to this huge problem in SD and the consequences of not addressing it.
For more information please visit unitedwayblackhills.org

Festival of Lights Parade

What a wonderful night. Our float was first as the Grand Marshall! The Rapid City Festival of Lights Parade was spectacular. Thank you to our hard working Rotarians for making this spectacular float.

Rotarians helping Feeding South Dakota

Rushmore Rotarians helping distribute food for Feeding South Dakota Tuesday afternoon.

Rushmore Rotarians volunteer at Cornerstone Rescue Mission

Yesterday our giving Rotarians served lunch at Cornerstone Mission. Thank you Janet Kahler, Mary Swanson, Julie Jackson and Kim Nearhood.

Community Action!

Saturday was clean up day. This is part of the DOT's Adopt a Highway Program. Rushmore Rotarians did a great job cleaning up and of course had fun while doing it.

The Rotary Foundation

Every day, Rotary members respond to challenges big and small, emerging and ongoing. And when members like you participate through service or with a donation to our Foundation, we make an even bigger impact.

Please donate online or send your contribution by mail to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE or one of our Annual Fund's areas of focus. Your gift will support projects like these and make Doing Good in the World possible.

Rotary's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Code of Conduct

What we say and how we behave matter. Although free expression is important, we must take responsibility for how our words and actions may affect others. The RI Board has approved a new DEI Code of Conduct to help Rotary members create and maintain an environment that is collaborative, positive, and healthy for everyone. Simply put, the DEI Code of Conduct asks you to: