Periodically, the Mitchell Rotary Club participates in Group Study Exchanges (GSE) with other Rotary Districts around the world.  In September 2023, Mitchell Rotary provided a full day of programs for GSE team from Australia as part of their overall 22-day stay in South Dakota.  The club hosted the team with programs at the Corn Palace, Carnegie Resource Center, and Prehistoric Indian Village.  The club also provided lunch, an evening dinner social, and overnight stay at the home of Mitchell Rotarians.

The official name of this exchange is Australia-USA Wiradjuri/Oceti Sakowin Rotary Group Study Exchange.  Phase 1 of this grant project will support the Rotary District 9700 delegation of relatively young indigenous Australian professionals to Rotary District 5610 to experience a different indigenous culture and to share experiences and connections to demonstrate the way Rotary works towards building understanding, peace and vocational excellence. The Wiradjuri Team visit occurred September 9- 30, 2023 ending at the District 5610 Conference in Yankton, SD.  Phase 2 of this grant project will be to send counterpart Native Tribal Americans to Australia to mirror the experience of the Phase 1 Aboriginal Australians. The Wiradjuri are a major Aboriginal indigenous tribe of southwest Australia.  In Mitchell, the GSE Team experienced the artwork of Oscar Howe, a famous Native American artist with strong ties to Mitchell, and the history and discoveries of the Prehistoric Indian Village.

Rotarians Tom Dice and Jen Bradley presented Tricia Neugebauer with the 2023 Carl Sprunger Outstanding Educator of the Year award.

Second Chance High provides community service opportunities through our Interact Club, which is sponsored by the Mitchell Rotary Club. Our students seek out projects that benefit others individually or for the community overall.  Volunteering at the food pantry, participating in Trunk-or-Treat, assisting with the Pheasants Forever Banquet, creating Christmas goodie trays for local businesses, donating Thanksgiving meals to families during the holidays, volunteering at the elementary schools, and creating connections with local nursing homes are a few of the projects Second Chance students have devoted their time and energy towards. Community service expands our student’s learning opportunities beyond the walls of the classroom and makes them active members of their community.    The Rotary Club of Mitchell provides advisory and funding support.

Annually, the Rotary Club of Mitchell has a fundraiser called Mitchell Rotary Monday Night Football.  All the proceeds are used for Rotary projects in the Mitchell area including the Rotary Scholarships and to promote “SERVICE ABOVE SELF”.

For a $25 donation, each player receives a book of cards, one for each Monday Night Football game of the season.  That is 17 different cards!  Each card can be a winner of $50 if the home team score and the visitor team match up to your team card.   The more donations for cards, the more $50 winners there will be each week.

Lots of fun… Great cause!