Andrea Greve Coello serves as the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). In this role, she leads the Office of Student-Athlete Development, overseeing academic advising and life skills programming to support the holistic success of all UNI student-athletes. She currently provides academic guidance to the volleyball and women’s basketball teams, while also directing Panther Life Skills—a comprehensive program designed to support student-athletes in their personal growth, leadership development, and career readiness, while also overseeing Varsity Club—UNI's former student-athlete membership organization.
Today our program will be from Cedar Valley Hospice, Susanne Benda and her associate will present a program about a new service providing help for those living with dementia and their caregivers. This is one of three such programs in the state of Iowa.
Join us for a very small, tight-knit group of Rotarians with November birthdays -
| Jay Crisp | November 6 |
| Luke Jenson | November 8 |
| Donna Miller | November 12 |
| Zachary Zumwalt | November 16 |
Also, we have 2 Rotarians on the list to borrow the Rotary Birthday Machine - if you want to get your name on the list, please email Mason.
Would you like to help sponsor students and coaches/administrators recognized at the upcoming Volleyball, Football and Honors Luncheons?
Next week we will have the Volleyball luncheon - Barb Prather and Jaclyne Heller are in charge of this program and would love your support. Then we'll honor the football seniors November 17th, committee chair Wade Itzen is also seeking support.
Operation Warm update... we have received the numbers and placed our coat order, now we are waiting for an invoice which will need to be paid to finish the order. If you haven't had a chance to donate - it is not too late. The total amount is estimated at just under $10,000 for the coats. Thank you to everyone who has participated in this project. Once the coats arrive we will need help with distribution...more to come.
Larry Steffens
UPDATE - Click here to view the Facebook LIVE video of our mayoral forum last week
Monday, Oct 27th we will be having a Waterloo Mayor's forum. All 3 candidates will be in attendance (4th candidate on the ballot Gary Hall has dropped out). Rick Morris will be the moderator. If you have specific questions you would like to ask the candidates please e-mail Rick. His email is rmorris@beecherlaw.com.
Also we would like to start our meeting early; serving will start @11:45 and our program will start at 12:00. This will allow candidates time for comments and answer questions.
The screenshot above was taken from a League of Women Voters candidates forum October 16th, you can watch the full video here:
Here is a list of all the candidates running for office in Black Hawk County:
The election is Tuesday November 4th and early voting is available at the Black Hawk County Courthouse.
Consider inviting friends or colleagues to have lunch with us!
November 3rd - Birthdays and Cedar Valley Hospice
Any member is welcome to attend our monthly executive board meetings - October's meeting is Monday the 27th at 10:45 am in the conference room at the Waterloo Convention Center.
Jace Elliott is the state deer biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in charge of overseeing the research and population management of white-tailed deer in Iowa. Growing up on a small Central Wisconsin farm, Jace fostered a deep passion for the natural world through hunting, fishing, and camping outings with family and friends. He completed his undergraduate degree at University of Wisconsin - Madison, then pursued a masters degree at the Auburn University Deer Laboratory. Upon graduation, Jace accepted a deer research specialist position with the Iowa DNR and was promoted to his current role a year later.
This week, Jace is presenting on the Iowa Deer Program, with emphasis placed on deer diseases such as CWD and EHD. He will also provide an overview of Iowa's harvest-based management strategies and why Iowa remains the nation's premier whitetail hunting state.
Join us Monday 10-13 to hear from our own Steve Carignan and Erin Tink about a growing epidemic of mental illness for young Americans. The rise of smartphones, social media, and overprotective parents have resulted in a "rewiring of childhood" since the early 2000s.
Our very own Jordan Bancroft was recently on the KWWL News @ Noon, then Steve made his own appearance on his birthday!
Rotary initiative aims to lower maternal death rates in Papua New Guinea.
Gwyneth Weuta is the only midwife serving a population of 12,000 in a rural part of Papua New Guinea. The area is a remote place where lush palms drink in the moisture that hangs in the air and forests are sonorous with the calls of shorebirds and tree frogs.
The isolation, as beautiful as it may be, is one of many challenges for the 37-year-old midwife: The clinic where she used to work, a single-story building tucked on a narrow island in the South Pacific nation, had no running water until she procured a grant a couple of years ago. A new health center where she’s now stationed is more developed, but there’s no reliable transportation to get there. Then there are the misconceptions and cultural barriers that lead many to resist birthing in a health care facility.
A reminder the Annual Football and Volleyball Awards Banquets will be coming up in November! The banquets are November 10 and November 17.
Due to the rising costs of food; we are seeking sponsors to cover the meal costs of the over 200 students, administrators and coaches for our upcoming volleyball, football and honor student awards luncheons. These are major traditions of our club and bring large exposure to us each year. Football and Volleyball events are in November and Honors event is in April!
Whether you and your business want to sponsor one individual at $25 or multiple at $200; we appreciate your support!
After a HUGE week for the University of Northern Iowa, President Mark Nook will join us for lunch and share updates from campus.
Mark A. Nook began serving as the 11th president of the University of Northern Iowa on February 1, 2017. Prior to this appointment, he served as chancellor of Montana State University Billings (MSUB).
Originally from Holstein, Iowa, Nook has committed his Midwest education and values to higher education for many years and on many levels. He is dedicated to ensuring every member of the university community reaches their individual educational, professional and personal life goals.
Prior to serving as the chancellor at MSUB from 2014-2016, Nook was the senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Wisconsin System from 2011-2014. He also served as provost (2007-09 and 2010-11) and interim chancellor (2009-10) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and in a variety of roles at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
He graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics, a master's degree in astrophysics from Iowa State University in 1983 and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1990.
President Nook and his wife, Cheryl, reside in the UNI President's House. They have three adult children, two granddaughters and two grandsons.
Wow - look at this list of esteemed Rotarians celebrating birthdays in October - out of 13, there are 5 past presidents in this group!
| Mike Lind | Oct 04 |
| Steve Carignan '09 | Oct 10 |
| Chuck Paulsen | Oct 10 |
| Samuel D. Bovenmyer | Oct 12 |
| Kaye Englin | Oct 15 |
| E. J. Gallagher III, '20 | Oct 16 |
| Steven Schmitt, '04 | Oct 16 |
| Phillip Nash, '17 | Oct 16 |
| Mark Kuiper | Oct 19 |
| Marcella Ericson | Oct 25 |
| John Beecher, '92 | Oct 27 |
| Jim Burbridge | Oct 28 |
| Suzanne Benda | Oct 29 |
Past President Cathy Nicholas will be speaking today about the State of the Black Hawk County Road system. Nicholas is the Black Hawk County Engineer, a position she has held for 17 years. Nicholas received her B.S. in Engineering from Iowa Ste University and an M.S. in Engineering from The University of Washington, Seattle. She has been a licensed Professional Engineer for 30 years.
She will also share updates on RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where you develop your skills as a leader while having fun and making connections. RYLA events are organized locally by Rotary clubs and districts for participants ages 14-30. Depending on community needs, RYLA may take the form of a one-day seminar, a three-day retreat, or a weeklong camp. Typically, events last 3-10 days and include presentations, activities, and workshops covering a variety of topics.
In the Rotary Youth Exchange program, students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries. Long-term exchanges last a full academic year, and students attend local schools and live with multiple host families.
Fellow Rotarian Mike Lind has invited our members to join UnityPoint Hospice and the Allen Foundation for an evening of beer and wine sampling, live music and light appetizers to support the patients and families of UnityPoint Hospice.
NEW LOCATION & NEW ENTERTAINMENT THIS YEAR!
Join the fun at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls and listen to the sounds of Beau Timmerman.
All proceeds from this event support UnityPoint Hospice, including the GIFT (Giving It Forward Together) fund. The GIFT fund is used to grant end of life wishes and a special way to bring joy to hospice patients, such as remembering a birthday or anniversary. By supporting Hops for Hospice, you not only make this event possible, you also ensure patients and families receive quality hospice care when they need it. Click the image below for details:
September 22 UPDATE:
President Steffens reports over $6,000 has been collected so far for Operation Warm - amazing job, Rotarians! Keep sharing the story in your networks and know that your efforts WILL keep kids warm this winter!
September 15th UPDATE:
We have an ADDITIONAL $1,000 challenge grant from Community Foundation Board member Nick Blasberg - We are very close to matching the original $1,000 gift announced a couple weeks ago by Kaye Englin, and now we have a big incentive to keep giving! Please click the flyer link below and share with your family and friends.
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The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa is offering a $1,000 matching grant for Operation Warm and we need YOUR HELP spreading the word! Download the flyer and post it at your office or business to encourage the community to support this amazing and much-needed program to keep kids warm this winter!
The Waterloo Rotary Club’s Operation Warm program brings warmth and comfort to children in our community by providing brand-new winter coats to those who need them most. This program, in partnership with the Waterloo Community School District, not only provides students with the necessary gear for Iowa winters, but helps instill a sense of confidence and belonging — and puts on a smile on a child’s face. Every $20 gift provides a coat for a child who needs it in the Waterloo Community School District. Thanks to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, we are able to match gifts, up to $1,000, doubling your impact. Together, we can keep kids warm and help them face winter weather with the essentials they deserve.
Gifts to the Waterloo Rotary: Operation Warm Fund are tax deductible as allowed by law and you will receive an acknowledgment of your gift from CFNEIA, an accredited local nonprofit community foundation. Learn more about this fund by contacting the Community Foundation at 319-287-9106 or visit cfneia.org.
Join us for a preview of the 2025-26 Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra season and the Gallagher Bluedorn season during their 25th anniversary year! Fellow Rotarian Jordan Bancroft will pinch hit for Steve Carignan who is recovering from knee surgery.
Decades of dreams and three years of construction became a reality on April 6, 2000, with the dedication of the new Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa. Enabled by the generosity of Cedar Valley residents Ed and Cathy Gallagher and Carl and Peggy Bluedorn, as well as support from the university, the state and over 1,400 donors across Iowa, this was the first major center to open in Iowa in twenty years. The $23 million, 100,000 square foot complex features three state-of-the-art concert halls, a soaring glass-walled lobby and dozens of teaching and rehearsal spaces. All three halls have been designed with superb acoustics and intimate sightlines. The Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall also has cutting-edge theatre technology, enabling the center to present artists spanning from chamber ensembles to the biggest Broadway shows. Hosting more than 300 performances each year, the GBPAC showcases the world's finest artists, ensembles of the UNI School of Music, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and many other regional events.
wcfsymphony was founded in the fall of 1929 and our first concert was held at East High School, Thursday, February 6, 1930, with Mr. Bennett as conductor, sharing the honor with Mr. Pronk. Today the orchestra performs at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center and at venues throughout the Cedar Valley under the direction of Jason Weinberger.
Join us today and hear updates from fellow Rotarian and President of Hawkeye Community College Todd Holcomb! Hawkeye is about to celebrate 60 years of serving our community, and Dr. Holcomb has lots of good news from campus to share!
Rotarians enjoyed the tour of the John Deere Tractor Museum August 25th! We had a great crowd and great questions!
Debbie Roth is President of Cedar Valley United Way, where she leads efforts to improve lives and strengthen communities through strategic investments and partnerships in education, financial stability, and health. With over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience, Debbie guides Cedar Valley United Way in mobilizing resources and aligning community efforts to address the most pressing needs through collaborative, community-driven solutions. Previously serving as Senior Director of Community Impact, she played a key role in directing grantmaking and convening cross-sector initiatives addressing mental health, early literacy, and trauma. Under her leadership, CVUW has received multiple recognitions for its coalition work. A lifelong resident of the Cedar Valley, Debbie resides in Cedar Falls with her husband, three daughters, and their dog, Max.
We've got a HUGE list of September birthdays to celebrate on the 8th.
| Wade Itzen | Sep 02 |
| Jordan Bancroft | Sep 09 |
| John Bunge | Sep 09 |
| Dave Lederman | Sep 12 |
| Annie Vander Werff | Sep 13 |
| Gene Leonhart | Sep 14 |
| Bryan Burton | Sep 15 |
| Larry Steffens | Sep 23 |
| Emily Frederick | Sep 24 |
| Nick Hildebrandt | Sep 24 |
| Adam Schaefer | Sep 24 |
| Deb Pullin-Van Auken | Sep 26 |
| Jeff Halverson | Sep 28 |
District 5970 District Governor Elect Jeff Halverson joined us for lunch Monday and encouraged young leaders in our club to apply for an all-expenses-paid scholarship to attend training in October:
The Rotary Zone 25b-29 Institute is a gathering of Club and District Leaders in Prior Lake, Minnesota on October 1-4, 2025, to share, to learn and become better equipped as Leaders. We welcome all "Emerging Leaders" to apply to join the Institute with their expenses paid by our District.
Please make this opportunity known to everyone who meets the following criteria:
- Is a Rotarian, Rotaractor, or Rotary alumni living within District 5970 and interested in assuming a future leadership role in Rotary; and
- Is able to attend the Zone Training Institute in Prior Lake, Minnesota October 1-4, 2025.
Application:
Each applicant should complete the Application Form (below) and submit it by email to Suellen Kolbet at des@district5970.org on or before September 1, 2025. (Each applicant must also submit a short video presentation as described in the application form).
Download, Fill out, Save and eMail the Application click here
Mark your calendars for a truly memorable event. Cedar Valley Hospice’s 14th annual Release & Remember fundraiser offers the opportunity to come together and celebrate our loved ones while supporting Cedar Valley Hospice’s mission-driven work.
- Dedicate a butterfly for $30 to receive a commemorative certificate and find your loved one’s name on our Dedication Station at the event.
- Starting at 1 p.m., enjoy live music by Never The Less and activities for the whole family.
- Purchase a 2025 Release & Remember T-shirt for $20 or a chance to open a butterfly box on stage at the event for $10.
- Witness the release of 1,000 monarch butterflies, each representing a loved one, at 2:30 p.m.
Release & Remember is open to anyone in the community to honor their loved one, and we invite all attendees to support Cedar Valley Hospice — every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference.
Note: You must be 18 years or older to participate in the Butterfly Box raffle, even if accompanied by an adult.
Peace Through Service
Service Above Self
We meet In Person
Mondays at 12:00 p.m.
Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
4th & Commercial
Waterloo, IA 50701
United States of America
Waterloo, IA 50701
United States of America