Orem-Lindon Rotarians and Utah Valley University Rotaractors with Mayor of the Orem City Dave Young
On May 4, 2024, 17 members of the Orem-Lindon Rotary Club along with their families and Utah Valley University (UVU) Rotaract students gathered for a service project at Orem City's Nielson Grove Park. Nielson Grove Park was founded in 1880 by a Danish immigrant, Jorgen Nielson, making it the oldest park in Utah.
Orem-Lindon Rotarians plant a tree
The event was a part of the celebration of the 105th birthday of the City of Orem. In addition, it provided an opportunity for us all to come together as a community and make a positive impact by enhancing and beautifying the park. Participants were invited to commemorate the event by:
The Orem-Lindon Rotarians with UVU Rotaractors planted 6 new trees in addition to 6 trees already planted at the park on October 8, 2022.
Before planting the new ones, Rotarians and Rotaractors took special care of the trees planted two years ago by weeding and removing debris, branches, and trash.
Orem-Lindon Rotarians weeding a tree
Before planting these new additions, Orem City managers pre-dug the holes in preparation for the service project. This time there was no need for our team to remove large rocks and debris in preparation for planting trees. Each tree was carefully lifted with an excavator, allowing Rotarians and Rotaractors to fit them neatly in the holes, and to cover the roots of the trees with dirt adequately. After they were all planted, wheelbarrows carted away any excess dirt.
I couldn’t have thought of a lovelier way to spend the first bright, sunny Saturday on May 4, 2024, than to plant beautiful flowers in Orem’s Nielson Grove Park with the Orem-Lindon Rotarians. This was part of a Student-Engaged Learning activity led by the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at UVU. UIMF engaged its members, both traditional and non-traditional students, and UVU alumni, like me, in the implementation of sustainable mountain development both locally and internationally.
Cholpon Akmatalieva, Orem-Lindon Rotarian with family members weeding a tree
The Rotary Club of Orem-Lindon has sponsored students' participation in the sessions of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). As a UVU graduate and lifelong learner, I participated in the discourse under UIMF leadership at parallel events during the 67th and 68th sessions of CSW.
Dean Robinson and Debby Lauret, Orem-Lindon Rotarians weeding a tree
This all came about because of the work we did at the Women of the Mountains International conference, held under the auspices of the United Nations Mountain Partnership in Orem. Utah, at UVU in 2015. This conference was organized by students, which included non-traditional, engaged learners such as me, and mentored by UVU faculty. Many women from around the world came to Orem, Utah to participate.
This led to students’ participation at CSW and has also led to students being a part of community service projects such as this beautification project held on May 4, 2024, at Nielson Grove Park and sponsored by the Orem-Lindon Rotary Club.
Mary Cisneros, UVU Alumni, non-traditional student
