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April 6th Program - COVID-19 Local Update

The Waterloo Rotary Club hosted a "Cedar Valley Healthcare COVID-19 Update." We hosted a panel of experts about the short term and long term needs of their organizations.

Pam Dellagardelle, CEO of UnityPoint Allen Hospital
Lisa Gates: CEO of Friendship Village a multi-level living option for older adults
Jeff Halverson, Vice President of MercyOne Medical Group-Northeast Iowa
Lanett Kane, People’s Community Health Clinic, Director of Quality
Joshua Pikora, BHCHD, Disease Surveillance and Investigation Manager (Epidemiologist)

You can see a recording of the meeting by clicking this link.

Grow Cedar Valley COVID-19 Resources

The Grow Cedar Valley team is working hard to provide weekly updates and resources to all of you. New updates include...

Small Business Owners Guide to CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act.
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) - Updates Leave Policy for Employees Impacted by COVID-19 Layoffs
Grant application now available for Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund
How you can help Cedar Valley Hospitals With COVID-19

Click link below to learn more...

https://www.growcedarvalley.com/news/blog/grow-cedar-valley/covid19-update

April Birthdays

We won't be together any time soon to celebrate our Rotarians with birthdays in April, so we'll honor them in person when we are able to be together again at a "real" meeting! They would still appreciate a note on social media or a phone call on their special day...so keep this list handy all month and practice PHYSICAL distancing instead of social distancing!

Rich Frevert	April 2
Barbara Prather	April 2
Bill Robert	April 4
Bette Wubbena	April 4
Billie Bailey	April 14
Megan Kugler	April 14
John Berry	April 16
Duane "Lindy" Lindberg	April 16
Jack Locke	April 24
Steve Finegan	April 25
Jane Lindaman	April 25
Jeremy Kauten	April 30

Rotary Supports Boys & Girls Club

The Covid-19 Pandemic has certainly impacted our local community as well as the world, however, it has not impacted our ability as humans to stand up and support each other.

As we are working hard every day to continue our services to the school aged youth of the Cedar Valley and their families, our community has stepped up to support us.

Pictured here, Mark Durbhan presenting our staff with $1,000 from the Waterloo Rotary Club to support us during this time. Thank you also to R.J. McElroy Trust for their $7,500 emergency check to support our services last week.

Rotarians helping Uganda Refugees

A group of Rotaractors are healing wounds and bringing culture together in Ugandan refugee settlement!

It’s Monday morning in one of Uganda’s largest refugee settlements, Nakivale, and the line at Paul Mushaho’s shop is out the door.

Mushaho has lived in Nakivale since 2016, when he fled violence in his native Democratic Republic of Congo. After receiving death threats, he crossed into Uganda and joined a friend in the 184-square-kilometer settlement that serves as home to 89,000 people.

The soft-spoken 26-year-old, who has a university degree in information technology, runs a money transfer service out of a wooden storefront that doubles as his home.

Read the full article here

March 30 Program - 2020 Census and Waterloo Airport

Our March 30th meeting was a first for our club - a VIRTUAL MEETING via Zoom.

You can watch a recording of the meting at this link:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/59JMNZ-pqnFJG53x9VOFB4QvPLv7eaa81ShM86YKzhsKwk0uf8tvaXnzKe5b08xE

To download the app for your device click this logo:

Empty Bowls Online Fundraiser

Support the Northeast Iowa Foodbank's annual fundraiser without leaving home!

Due to no in-person weekly meetings... our club has decided to donate the money that would have been used for our lunches to non-profits in the community! Our club voted and the first recipient is Northeast Iowa Foodbank. Please click the photo below to view a 360 degree photo of the check presentation and a link to their annual fundraiser.

Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa Disaster Response Fund

Two Rotarians - Niki Litzel and Kaye Englin -- are with Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and are doing special grants to help organizations at this time with a Disaster Response Fund. Click this link to explore different funds and ways you can help locally during this global pandemic.

Support Local Restaurants

Check out the list of restaurants still open and doing carryout or take out dining! KWWL is putting together a list of establishments where you can get a bite to go or delivered right to where you are. Click the link below to see the list and consider supporting these local restaurants and their employees during this challenging time.

Meetings Canceled Through April 13th

Hi All,

I would like to update everyone on a few things as the COVID-19 situation continues. I know that we are facing some changes and challenges as we navigate life while social distancing. As you know, the Governor has directed Iowans to limit social interaction and so we have canceled meetings through April 13th. As Rotarians and leaders in the community we should look to assist organizations and people in need during this crisis when we can.

On March 17th, the Rotary Board held a meeting using computer conferencing which included audio, video and screen sharing to discuss our response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Due to our Club not having our Monday meetings, we are not spending the approximately $1000 each week on our meal. We discussed whether to refund or credit each member the cost of the meals. It roughly relates to a little over $8 a meal for all 120 members. In the spirit of community and helping organizations most impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, we as a Board decided to donate the $1000 each week to organizations most impacted by the crisis. We voted to do this for the next 4 weeks.

Grow Cedar Valley Survey Request

Grow Cedar Valley has a request from the State of Iowa:

Assistance Guide Now Available.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) needs to assess the impact of the pandemic in Iowa. To assist in these efforts, please complete this survey, developed by University of Northern Iowa – Institute for Decision Making, to tell us what your business is experiencing and how your business is handling the current crisis.

Rotarian of the Week, Tavis Hall

Years in Rotary - 4 years

Hometown - Waterloo

College - Hawkeye Community College

Job - Executive Director, Experience Waterloo

Fave Food - Tacos

Fave Movie - Coming To America

Fave quote - "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced" - James Baldwin

Fave thing about Rotary - camaraderie

Something unique about you - To be honest, I'm not particularly unique. I'm just particularly passionate.

Rotary International Conference Canceled

We regret to announce that the Rotary International Convention, scheduled for 6-10 June 2020, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, has been canceled in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

http://riconvention.org/en

Rotary Monitors Coronavirus

March 19, 2020

Case confirmed in Black Hawk County. Community spread confirmed in Iowa.

Black Hawk County Health Department is working around the clock with local government and community partners to respond to the evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation in our community.

This website is meant to help Black Hawk County residents, businesses, media, and others better understand what is happening in our community, and how best to prepare and respond as the situation evolves.

https://www.blackhawkcovid19.com/

Rotarian of the Week - Doug Stanford

Years in Rotary - 16

Hometown - Sutherland, Iowa

College - Iowa State University

Occupation – Retired physician

Fave Food - Italian

Fave movie - Almost any historical drama

Random fact about yourself - I love to fish (being on the water and not fishing is a waste of time)

Favorite quote - A bad day fishing is better than a good day working

Annual Rural-Urban Day

March 9

Keynote Speaker: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Michael Naig

Our annual Rural-Urban Day is always one of the bright spots in our Rotary year when our agriculture friends join us for some great food and a wonderful speaker. This year, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Michael Naig joined us for the keynote address.

Click here to see photos from the event

Rotarian of the Week - Derick Rogers

Years in Rotary - 3 months

Hometown - Cedar Falls

College - Upper Iowa University (BA- Business Management) / Hawkeye (AA Marketing/Graphic Communications)

Occupation – Marketing/Advertising, Iconic Signs (owner)

Fave Food - Anything Spicy

Fave movie - Frozen and Frozen 2

Random fact about yourself - I drive a really cool 1966 VW bus :)

Favorite quote - Everything happens for a reason

New Members Introduced March 2

We welcomed 3 new members Monday - be sure to connect with them and share your Rotary success stories!

Derick Rogers (left) – independent marketing and design specialist, sponsor Phil Nash

DJ Perry (left center) – Locknet Managed IT, sponsor Phil Nash

Billie Bailey (right center) – returning former member from the 90s, Executive Director Grout Museum District, Sponsor EJ Gallagher

Allison Beach (right) – CEO and owner of OMJC Signal, sponsor Barb Prather

Celebrate Rotaract

March is the month we celebrate Rotaract — and this has been quite a year for our young partners in service.

Last spring, the Council on Legislation elevated Rotaract in our constitution: Rotary International is now the association of both Rotary clubs and Rotaract clubs. Then in October, the Rotary Board of Directors eliminated the artificial Rotaract age limit and took other steps to break down barriers that were preventing Rotaract from growing in some parts of the world.

Seeking District Governor Candidates

Are you or a fellow Rotarian looking to grow in District 5970 and Rotary International? We’ve begun the search for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year District Governor. As District Governor, you’ll be charged with leading the district, serving as an officer of RI and most importantly inspiring our clubs to reach new heights. Get the complete position description.

To apply, you must meet the following qualifications include:

March 2 Program - District Governor Michelle Bell

Join us Monday to hear from our district governor Michelle Bell. She'll share updates from the district and beyond and encourage all of us to attend the District Conference.

March Birthdays

These Rotarians celebrate another birthday and YOU can sing to them Monday!

Dr. Laura Kurtz	March 13
Mason Fromm	March 16
Brian Aronson	March 19
Eric Ritland	March 20
Cathy Nicholas	March 24
Steve Brown	March 26
Art Cox	March 26
Holly Johnson	March 30
Bob Regenwether	March 30

Rotarian of the Week - Jim Schaefer

Years in Rotary - 2.5

Hometown - Waterloo, IA

College - University of Northern Iowa

Occupation – Director of Investor Relations at Grow Cedar Valley

Fave Food - Steak (medium rare)

Fave movie – It’s a Wonderful Life

Random fact about yourself – Youngest of 9 children and we are all very close friends

Favorite quote - If you are afraid to fail, you will never succeed. Dan Gable

Waverly Rotary Meltdown offers chance to win $1,000

A fish habitat constructed by the Waverly Rotary Club is ready for placement on Waverly's Three Rivers Pond. A raffle predicting the time it will fall through the ice offers a grand prize of $2,500.

Tickets are now on sale for a Waverly Rotary Club raffle that offers a cash prize of $1,000.

Rotary Meltdown 2020 is based on the time a fish habitat will fall through the ice at Three Rivers Pond, a popular fishing spot adjacent to Waverly Utilities. This is the second year for the event, which raises funds for local Rotary projects.

February 24th Program - Dr. Todd Holcomb

Join us Monday to hear from fellow Rotarian Dr. Todd Holcomb who is in his first year as President of Hawkeye Community College.

For over 50 years, Hawkeye Community College has distinguished itself as one of Iowa’s best community colleges. Known for an environment that is academically challenging, caring faculty and staff, and for providing the latest technology, Dr. Holcomb will share insights on the impact Hawkeye is having on our community and the state of Iowa. Local employment trends and ongoing priorities for Hawkeye will also be shared with our club.