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June 23 - Board of Realtors
 
Join us today at noon at the Waterloo Convention Center to hear from the North East Iowa Regional Board of Realtors. Our guest speaker is incoming President of the Board of Realtors, Karmen Schwake. She will be discussing the real estate market in the Cedar Valley both residential and commercial. Karmen is a native of Waterloo, graduated from West High School and attended school in Arizona. She is currently a broker for Oakridge Realty.  She has a family of 4 and resides in Waterloo. 
 
**UPDATE** Our guest was unable to share several interesting charts and info with us on the big screen, so it has been uploaded here.
 
 
 
 
Habitat for Humanity Service Project
Habitat for Humanity Service Project
We'll begin a sign up to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in July. They can take  groups of 10 Monday thru Thursday mornings 8:30-11:30 the week of July 14th.
There will be no regular Rotary meeting that week. Lunch will be provided to volunteers. This is an opportunity for service to help build homes to those in need plus have some fun with your fellow Rotarians.
Training will be provided.  Currently there are 6 project homes.
President-elect Larry will have more details at our next few regular meetings.
 
 
Upcoming Programs
Upcoming Programs
Our upcoming programs offer a wide variety of topics that you can offer to guests - maybe you could reach out and re-connect with your network and invite them to join us for lunch? 
 
June 30 - Waterloo Black Hawks, Jay Dobes, Director of Sales. 
July 7 - NO MEETING / 4th of July Holiday
July 14 - NO NOON MEETING / Volunteer week for Habitat for Humanity. 
- - Monday-Thursday, 8:30-11:30.  Lunch will be provided. 
July 21 - Cedar Valley TechWorks by Paul Pfeiffer.
July 28 - NO MEETING / Rotary Family Picnic @ Rotary Reserve Wednesday July 30.
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 16 Program - Food Bank
Fellow Rotarian Barb Prather is the Executive Director of Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and will bring some friends to our meeting Monday:
 
Ron Steele is the Capacity Campaign’s Volunteer Spokesperson. Ron has lived and worked in the Cedar Valley more than 50 years, recently retiring as Senior News Anchor for KWWL-TV. He hopes to help the NEIFB reach its goal of increased capacity to serve the tens of thousands in 16 Iowa counties who depend on daily meals provided by the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.’
 
Dr. Michelle Swanson is a life-long resident of the Cedar Valley and a recently retired professor from the University of Northern Iowa. She continues to serve the community as a volunteer at the Northeast Iowa food bank and numerous other local charities, demonstrating her deep commitment to helping others. Michelle is married to her husband, Chad - a local attorney -  and together they have raised two adult children, Elizabeth and Matthew.
 
 
 
 
 
 
June Birthdays
June Birthdays
Join us Monday to celebrate these Rotarians who are all 1 year wiser!
 
 
Kathleen WernimontJun 2 
Dusty WilsonJun 6 
Jacob BatesJun 16 
David BuckJun 19 
Jacylne HellerJun 19 
Chris KempJun 22 
 
 
 
 
Highlights from UNI Football Program
Rotarians heard from NEW UNI Football Coach - Todd Stepsis - last week! Thank you to everyone for making the trip to the Dome!
 
Committee Meetings Updates
Last week, three committee met after the Club business meeting.
Read more...
OFF SITE Directions to get to UNI Monday for Rotary
UNI has provided us directions for the meeting at the UNI Dome. The meeting will be at the building connected to the NORTH Side of the UNI Dome. Jimmy John's will be served for lunch.
 
Below is a map of the North entrance to the UNI dome parking lot. Turn onto the North parking lot entrance and then turn into the meter parking at the Wellness Recreation Center. Enter on the West side of the building and then turn right down a long hallway... you will walk by a large weight room ... and will see a white stairway ahead go up the stairs and go to the Athletic Administration office and turn left...you go down a short hallway to room 256 which is the Team meeting Room. This will be stadium seating with comfortable seats. There will be people there to help direct you. There is also an elevator by the white stairway to the left if you would like an elevator.  Parking is 25 cents per 18 minutes. Otherwise you can park in the North parking lot for free. You can also use the PEC entrance and avoid the long hallway. If anyone would like to help direct people, please contact Larry Steffens @319-415-7635.  Thank you. 
Read more...
Memorial Day - No Meeting
Memorial Day - No Meeting
Today, we honor those who died while serving our country in the Armed Forces. We will not meet today so you can spend the unofficial kick off to summer with your family.  Next meeting will be June 2 at the Waterloo Convention Center with a Rotary business agenda.
 
 
 
May 19 - Habitat For Humanity
 
Ali Parrish is the Executive Director of Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, where she has worked for the past 11 years, helping to lead efforts that expand access to affordable homeownership and strengthen neighborhoods across the Cedar Valley. A Waterloo native, Ali is committed to bringing people together to create lasting change through housing and community partnerships. She and her husband Nathaniel have three grown daughters and enjoy being part of the place they’ve long called home.
 
 
Summer Kickoff
 
Summer in Waterloo starts with FridayLoo and the 4th Street Cruise THIS WEEKEND!
 
The first FridayLoo of the season will start at 5:30 in Lincoln Park and will feature local favorites - Dead Presidents. Admission is FREE Click HERE to learn more! 
 
 
Bring your family and bring your chair - there will be music and food down at National Cattle Congress on May 23rd prior to the parade of classic cars on May 24th. Please click HERE for updates and more information. 
 
 
 
Rotary Flag Project in California
Inspired by the American flags placed beside headstones at military cemeteries, Rick Clark asked officials at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego if Rotary clubs could similarly pay tribute to service members interred there.
 
 
Clark, a past president of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle, is a Vietnam veteran who served as a Seabee, as members of the U.S. Navy’s construction battalions are called. He enlisted District 5340 leaders to recruit 400 volunteers to participate in the project, dubbed 2024 Operation Flags for Vets. “It was a powerful event that impacted so many people, including countless survivors who expressed their gratitude,” says another organizer, Michael Fuqua, a member of the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo and a retired naval captain. The district plans to repeat the event this Memorial Day. The initiative is supported by a new district committee formed to coordinate projects related to military members and veterans. The committee helped raise about $14,000.
 
 
May 12 Program - Child Protection
 
Katie Strub is the Senior Clinic Administrator at the Allen Child Protection Center and Allen Women’s Health. She has been in her current position since 2021, and has been employed at UnityPoint Health in the Allen Child Protection Center since it opened in 2010. Katie has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Northern Iowa. Katie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She represents Allen Women’s Health and Allen Child Protection Center on numerous state, regional and national committees and coalitions.
 
 
 
2025 District Conference
2025 District Conference
The Rotary District #5970 conference was held in Decorah, IA May 2-4.  The meeting was attended by about 75 people, including Rotary Exchange students, members, past, present, and future District Governors, and others.  We began Saturday morning with a presentation from Patricia Kennedy Davanzo, who told us how Rotary and the 4-way test changed her life.  She told us how her father who was a Rotarian for many years, insisted she go off to New Zealand as an exchange student when she was in high school.  That experience changed her life, and she knew she wanted to be involved with travel as a career. She went to work for Northwest Airlines, now Delta Airlines, after college.  Today, 30 years later she has moved all over the county and successfully moved up the ranks at Northwest.  Throughout here career she had a 4-way test plaque sitting on her desk and she tried to follow it every day, especially in difficult situations.
 
We then participated in a Gratitude Scavenger Hunt.  We were split into about 10 teams and given $100 in cash.  Our goal was to go out and spread joy and tell others about Rotary in about an hour.  We started on Main Street, and we gave money to a family who was on their way to buy some hot chocolate for their two young children.   We then headed down to the Farmer’s Market and met a local farmer and his young daughter, who runs a farm with everything from chickens to cows to potted plants.  We treated his family to a future dinner out.  It was a lot of fun to see how surprised people were when we gave them cash for a treat.
 
The last speaker was Tim Felton, a retired County Sheriff’s deputy from Winneshiek County.  He told us of several trips to Ukraine in the last 4-5 years in which he has gone over and trained their local fire and police forces on how to deal with trauma and PTSD in the warzone.  It was an interesting and inspiring talk and reminded us of how luck we are to live in a county where we take peace for granted. 
 
The day ended with pizza from Mabe’s and family trivia. 
 
Cathy Nicholas
2024-2025 Waterloo Rotary President
 
 
 
Main Street Sweep Volunteer Sign-Up

Main Street Sweep – Saturday, May 17th | 10am–1pm

We invite you to be a part of our annual Main Street Sweep, a community spring clean-up day dedicated to revitalizing downtown Waterloo after a long winter. This is more than just picking up trash — it’s about coming together to restore the beauty, health, and welcoming spirit in the heart of our city. When we unite with a common purpose, even the simplest actions — like sweeping a sidewalk — we create a powerful ripple of pride and connection. Volunteers will receive supplies and assignments before heading out to "sweep" downtown. After the cleanup, we’ll gather for lunch and a well-deserved celebration. Let’s work side by side to make downtown shine again — we can’t wait to see you there! Sign up here to join the movement. 

 

 

Rotarian brings Home Mental Health Support
When Ugandan village elders meet with Stuart Raymond Kasule about supporting people with mental health struggles, they volunteer ideas to show more empathy.
 
 
They want to know, for example, how to open a conversation with a person who is suffering. “That shows you that the people are crying out to say, we need help, we need support,” Kasule says. He travels from his adopted home of Australia to his Ugandan homeland about twice a year to share his training on mental well-being and suicide prevention, skills that are part of his job with a counseling firm in Canberra.
 
Read the full story here:
Rotarian brings home mental health support | Rotary International
 
 
May 5 program  - UNI Director of Athletics 
 
Join us Monday to hear from Megan Franklin - she was named the University of Northern Iowa's ninth Director of Athletics in May 2024, bringing over a decade of athletic administrative experience in the Missouri Valley Conference to Cedar Falls.
 
 

Franklin earned her bachelor's degree in Community Health Education at the University of Nebraska and later received a master's degree in Educational Administration specializing in student affairs from Nebraska. She owns a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech. 

 

May Birthdays
May Birthdays
 
We'll celebrate these Rotarians on Monday and be sure to wish them a Happy Birthday later this month!
 
Vicki MuellerMay 19 
Troy SmithMay 22 
Todd WordelMay 31 
 
 
 
April 28 Program - Honor Student Luncheon
We celebrated the brightest high school seniors at our annual Academic Recognition program.  Our keynote speaker was Glen Keith, Executive Director, Love, INC of the Cedar Valley
 
 
Glen Keith is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and is the current Executive Director of Love In the Name of Christ of the Cedar Valley, also known as Love INC. Glen spent 25 years in the military and served as logistics officer throughout the globe with multiple deployments to the Balkans in the mid-1990s and multiple deployments to Afghanistan during the Global War on Terrorism.

Glen is a native of Tennessee with the Army bringing him to the Cedar Valley in 2013 to lead the University of Northern Iowa Army ROTC program, where he retired from the Army in 2017. His education includes a Bachelors in Sociology from Tennessee Technological University, a Masters in Administration from Central Michigan University and Master of Military Studies from Marine Corps University.
 
 
 
 
NewAldaya Fundraiser April 25
Rotary National Convention is in Calgary

Thousands set to gather in Calgary for Rotary’s international convention, one of the ‘Blue Sky City’s’ most multicultural events to date.

CALGARY (10 April 2025) - More than 15,000 Rotary members and participants from over 120 countries will gather in Calgary from June 21 to 25, 2025, for the membership service organization’s annual international convention.

“I am thrilled to welcome my fellow Rotary members from around the world to Calgary and Alberta,” said Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith. “As changemakers who recognize the needs of their communities and then take action to address them, Rotary members are fostering positive and lasting impact – and much needed inspiration at this moment in time.”

As the largest event yet to be held at the newly expanded BMO Centre, the convention is expected to account for more than 30,000 hotel room nights, inject $81 million CAD to the local economy, and drive significant business for Calgary’s hotels, restaurants, retailers, and tourism attractions.

Click below to read the full story:

Thousands set to gather in Calgary for Rotary’s international convention, one of the ‘Blue Sky City’s’ most multicultural events to date 

 

 

Black Hawk County Soil & Water Conservation
 
Jeri Thornsberry serves as a Black Hawk Soil and Water Commissioner and currently chairs the Board. First elected in 2008, she has also held leadership positions at both the regional and national levels. Today, she serves as President of the Conservation Districts of Iowa, representing 500 locally elected commissioners across the state.
 
Jeri lived in Nevada’s Great Basin region, where water was more precious than the silver mined from the mountains. Her passion for protecting Iowa’s soil and water was reignited when she returned to her childhood home. Jeri hopes the citizens of Black Hawk County will continue to support conservation practices that promote sustainable agriculture on rural lands and expand these efforts into urban areas as well.
 
 
Welcome New Rotarian Ed Gruenwald
Ed Gruenwald with Amy Rousselow
 
  • Name:               Ed Gruenwald
  • Job:                   Director, Growing Minds Early Learning Center
  • Hometown:      Wood Dale Illinois
  • College:            Southern Illinois University
  • Favorite Food:  Kugelis (Popular Lithuanian dish)
  • Fun Fact:           I enjoy repairing vintage tube amplifiers in my spare time.
  • Why Rotary?     Meet new people and keep up to date on what is happening.
 
 
Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser Kicks off April 23
Check out the upcoming Habitat for Humanity fundraiser.
Habitat for Humanity - Wikipedia
Read more...
April 14 - National Alliance on Mental Illness
 
Chad Hammar is the new Executive Director of NAMI Black Hawk County (National Alliance on Mental Illness).  After a long career in the banking industry, Chad has spent the past 16 years in non-profit leadership.  He’ll discuss NAMI’s services to people in the Cedar Valley who live with mental illness as well as those who love them, as well as the current state of the mental health epidemic.
 
 
 
Club Information
Peace Through Service
Waterloo Rotary

Service Above Self

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Waterloo, IA 50701
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Photo Albums
2024 Honor Student Luncheon
2022 Football Luncheon
2022 Volleyball Luncheon
2022 Cultural Immersion Workshop
2022 Honor Student Luncheon
Ashley Hinson visit 2022
2021 Football MVP
2021 Christmas Luncheon
Rural Urban Day 2022
2021 Volleyball
VGM Heartland Conference 2021
Food Bank Sept 2021
Hovey Brom WWII Photos
Steve Thorpe
Bill Robert
2020 Football
2020 Rural Urban Day - Mike Naig
2019 Holiday Luncheon
2019 Football Luncheon
2019 Volleyball Photos
2019 Family Picnic
2019 Student Scholars Luncheon
2018 Volleyball Luncheon
2018 Football
Hops & Grapes 2018
2018 Student scholars Luncheon
2017 Student Scholar Luncheon
2017 Football Luncheon
2017 Volleyball Luncheon
Shoebox Service Day, 2017
2016 Student Luncheon
June 2016 Kelli Farewell
Centennial Celebration June 25, 2015
2015 Holiday Luncheon
2015 Family Picnic
March 9th Meeting
Rotary Day Feb 23rd 2009
Chili Supper 1-18-09
2016 Family Picnic
Mason's trip to LA
Rural Urban Day 2009
2004 Million Dollar Hole In One Kick Off
2009 Shoebox pickup
2004 Million Dollar Hole In One Parade
Sullivan Museum 2-2-09
Photos of Dick Winegarden
April 20 Meeting
April 6th Meeting
Family Picnic July 31, 2008
2002 - First trip to Nicaragua
Recent Projects
Family Picnic 2009
2009 Steak Fry
July 6th Meeting
Hops & Grapes June 11
District Conference May 1-2
Nicaragua Journal
1965 Convention

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