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May 18th Program - Hotel/Convention Center Update

Kayleen Leonard with Best Western Hotel and Michelle Weidner with the City of Waterloo will give us an update on the plans for the hotel and the convention center. They will share renderings, timelines, and answer questions.

Below is a link to an article from last fall about the renovation...

https://wcfcourier.com/business/local/former-downtown-ramada-closes-for-renovations/article_46d27069-b10f-5f4b-ad26-0cce569fdbdb.html

Rotary featured on Courier and KWWL

Both local media outlets featured our donations in news stories!

https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/waterloo-rotary-club-donates-9-000-to-combat-covid-19/article_4c75ab5f-f85a-5394-b7ec-55b8e3f4d49d.html

https://kwwl.com/2020/05/13/downtown-waterloo-rotary-club-donates-9k-to-non-profits-during-pandemic/

Local Rotarian in the News

Rotarian Michael Broshar organizes a project to supporter first responders in the area.

Waterloo – Michael Broshar, a Waterloo native and local architect, has designed and donated a water color that supports the First Responders Fund, established earlier this month by the Waterloo Community Foundation. This unique piece of art features a local firefighter, policeman and health care worker, the recipients of the fund’s proceeds. Signed prints are being offered for sale for $150 each. Proceeds above the cost of production will go to the Foundation.

Orders must be placed by June 15, by mailing checks to the Waterloo Community Foundation at PO Box 1253, Waterloo, on the Foundation’s website https://www.wloocommunityfoundation.org/ or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/waterloocommunityfoundation/. General donations to the fund are also being accepted, as described above.

The Waterloo Community Foundation established the First Responders Fund to assist local police, fire and health care workers keep our community and families safe during the COVID-19 crisis. During the month of May, the Foundation will match all donations up to $5,000. One hundred percent (100%) of all donations will go directly to local first responder organizations (no administrative fees will be withheld).

Michael Broshar grew up working in his father’s architecture firm, Thorson Brom Broshar Snyder Architects. Following his education in Iowa and Texas, he located in Minneapolis to begin his career. He returned to Waterloo to practice architecture in the early 1980’s and was named a partner in 1991. The firm grew under his leadership and became INVISION Architecture in the 1990’s with the addition of a Des Moines office. Broshar retired from architectural practice at the end of 2019.

Michael has always had a strong interest in the visual arts, pursuing painting in college and in his early career. In 2013, he renewed his interest in painting, particularly in watercolor. He has studied under John Lovett, Iain Stewart and Alvaro Castegnet, and has had solo shows at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, The Hearst Center and the Iowa Center for Architecture. Broshar is a signature member of the Iowa Watercolor Society.

The Waterloo Community Foundation was formed in 2015 to support Waterloo residents with the confidence that all gifts are being invested in our community efficiently and effectively. Most importantly, we are here to help. To learn more about the Waterloo Community Foundation, visit www.wloocommunityfoundation.org or contact us at 319.883.6022.

Never Too Young to Lead

Six Rotarians reveal the secrets of balancing family and work that allowed them to take on the role of district governor before turning 50.

As an active member of the Rotary Club of Hampton Roads (Norfolk) in Virginia, Clenise Platt had been a club president and taken on some leadership roles in her district. Even so, it came as a complete surprise when Mary Landon, the club’s 2016-17 president, approached her at the end of a meeting and asked if it would be OK to nominate her for district governor.

“I thought one day I might place my name in the hat to become a district governor,” says Platt, 48. “But truth be told, I thought ‘one day’ was years away.”

May 11th Program: KWWL's Abby Turpin

News Anchor Abby Turpin of KWWL will share her story as a news anchor and about her life behind the camera.

Rotarians in the News

Multiple Downtown Waterloo Rotarians were featured in a recent Courier article describing a new fund to mitigate impacts of COVID-19 in the Cedar Valley.

“This has been tough on all nonprofits, whether or not it’s on the frontlines, and it has affected charitable giving for all nonprofits, as well as affecting revenue streams and available resources,” said Kaye Englin, director of the Community Foundation of NE Iowa.

Sheila Baird, executive director of the Cedar Valley United Way, said each organization brings their own experiences and expertise to the table. “We each operate differently, which ultimately you hope is our strength."

Casey Reints, executive director at the Max and Helen Guernsey Foundation, said she is proud the foundation has partnered with other Cedar Valley area funders and “can see the impact that these collective efforts have had on our community. We are stronger together."

Rotarians in Lithuania and U.S. have innovative COVID-19 solution

Rotarians in Lithuania and Chicago are using their influence to promote the use of “bubble helmets” and potentially lessen the need for mechanical ventilators for COVID-19 patients who struggle to breathe on their own.

The Rotary Club of Vilnius Lituanica International, Lithuania, participated in Hack the Crisis, an online event in March that brought together innovators in science and technology to “hack,” or develop solutions to, issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the Lithuanian club, along with members of the Rotary Clubs of Chicago and Chicagoland Lithuanians (Westmont), joined a team to brainstorm ways to help COVID-19 patients breathe without using mechanical ventilators.

Foodbanks in Eastern Iowa receive district funds

May, 2020

A Note from Your District Governor Michelle Bell

Greetings, District 5970!

How’s the new virtual world treating you? I’m inspired by the number of clubs who have shared their stories of engaging online.

Though the pandemic has brought anxiety and grief, it has also surfaced opportunities for Rotary to evolve. Food banks, homelessness initiatives, and other community organizations are in desperate need of philanthropy, from volunteer support to monetary donations.

Rotary Meeting Today: Special Program

President-Elect Annie Vander Werff will review some 2020-2021 Downtown Waterloo Rotary Club events/opportunities. Don't miss out on the latest and the greatest of what's coming up!

People's Community Health Clinic Receives Rotary Gift

At our board meeting last week we agreed that our last grant for the month of April was to Peoples Clinic. As many of you know, many of their clients are from Tyson Fresh Meats which has been particularly hard hit during this crisis. The Clinic is dealing with staff shortages, increased demand, communication barriers, and added stress of providing services to those most in need. Our grant will assist them in converting their dentistry area to provide more protection to patients and staff. Executive Director Chris Kemp pictured with $1,000 check.

A Message from Our President

I would like to take this opportunity to update everyone on some of the decisions that were made at our last board meeting regarding our meetings, dues and charitable contributions. We will not be meeting in May as the Governor’s restrictions are ongoing for Black Hawk County. During the Board meeting we decided that we will extend our charitable giving grants each week through May for a total of 8-$1000 grants through the months of April and May. This is an outstanding contribution from our Waterloo Rotary Club to organizations providing aid and assistance to those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a reminder, below is a list of the organizations that we’ve chosen to support.

Jonas Salk tested Polio vaccine on his own kids

In this April 1955 photo, Dr. Jonas Salk reads Life magazine with his wife, Donna, and three boys. From left are Jonathan, 5, Peter, 11, and Darrell, 8.(AP)

Peter Salk still remembers the trepidation he felt when his father came home from work one day in May 1953 and promptly began boiling a set of needles and syringes on the kitchen stove.

With several years of research and promising results in monkeys fueling high hopes, Dr. Jonas Salk had brought from his lab at the University of Pittsburgh a still-experimental vaccine candidate to their Pine home. His family would become among the first humans in the world to test a shot against the mysterious polio virus crippling and killing children.

“I’m sure that my father told us [the importance of] what was happening,” said Dr. Peter Salk, 76, a University of Pittsburgh professor of infectious diseases and microbiology and president of the Jonas Salk Legacy Foundation, speaking by phone from his California home. “I … was just not happy at the notion of having another shot.”

Peter Salk was 9 years old. He didn’t have a sense of the medical history that he and his family were making, nor the millions of lives that would benefit.

April 27 Program - Friends of the Family

Ben Brustkern, Executive Director is speaking at Monday's meeting. Ben has been with Friends of the Family for more than 18 years. He is a graduate of University of Northern Iowa, resides in Waterloo with his wife Kim and has three children. Ben is well-known in the community and passionate about helping those in need.

Ben Brustkern - Executive Director - Cedar Valley Friends of the ...

Volunteer Opportunities and "Good News"

The Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley will continue to be thee connection between people who need help and the people who can help. shared a few ways to help in the local community through the Volunteer Center of the Cedar Valley. They have organized a list of immediate volunteer needs for community organizations on their website. This list will change frequently so check back often for updates or sign up to receive email alerts for new opportunities.

If you need some good news as you shelter in place, KWWL has a running feature called Iowa Strong profiling Iowans having a positive impact on their communities.

Grow Cedar Valley Webinar Series

The team at Grow Cedar Valley is excited to be hosting a series of Live Webinars on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:30-11:00 AM on their Facebook Page and Youtube Channel!

Thank you note to share

The Salvation Army wrote a thank you letter to our club as they are working hard and using the gift for us toward the impactful programs and services they provide. There is a great need right now and the Salvation Army expects the need to continue in future months.

Click on the letter above to download and read the text.

May Birthdays

We still won't be together to honor our fellow Rotarians celebrating in May, so we'll combine the birthday tables when we reconvene. However, these Rotarians would certainly be tickled to have a note or call from you on their special day!

Marty Stoakes	May 3
Bob Bitter	May 5
Sue Armbrecht	May 13
Nick Rossman	May 16
Cyd McHone	May 19
Vicki Mueller	May 19
Troy Smith	May 22 1972
Beverly Hinders Trost	May 26
Todd Wordel	May 31

Rotary International Livestream Telethon

Join the #RotaryResponds #COVID19 Livestream Telethon to hear stories of hope, inspiration and gratitude from Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends of Rotary from across the globe as they share what they are doing to help their communities.

Click here for more details.

April 20 Program - Student Scholars

One of our largest annual meetings took a different form this year. Typically we host around 200 people as Rotarians, parents, and school administrators gather to honor high school seniors for their academic accomplishments. However, even though we didn't meet in person, and the remainder of the school year has been taken away from these students, our club still celebrated the brightest minds among our future leaders. J'Kalein Madison recorded a keynote address and Dr. Jane Lindaman submitted a letter that will be sent to all our student honorees. Congratulations and best of luck as you enter a world that has seen major change since you started your senior year.

Angie Widner, Executive Director of YMCA

Angie Widner joined us to review the childcare services the YMCA has been providing to businesses and families the past several weeks. She also shared her personal story of the impact of COVID-19 on her own family. You can view her comments below, using this password: 2H=^=@^j

Rotarian of the Week - Casey Reints

Years in Rotary: 2 weeks! 😊

Hometown: Hudson -- Go Pirates!

College: UNI – social work

Job: Executive Director at the Max & Helen Guernsey Charitable Foundation

Fave Food: fajitas with unlimited avocado

Fave Movie: The Green Mile

Fave quote: Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.

Fave thing about Rotary: socialization with a mission 😊

Something unique about you: I am the youngest of six siblings, with nieces and nephews very close to my own age. Most people confuse them with my cousins, which is totally understandable. But it means I get to be the young, cool aunt!

VGM Heartland Conference canceling 2020 event

VGM is doing a "virtual" Heartland Conference this year and canceling their traditional in-person event in Waterloo this year. Rotarians have volunteered as room monitors for many years in exchange for a donation to our club. A special thank you to Katelyn Tungland for organizing volunteers earlier this year. VGM says our club should be prepared for a big conference in Waterloo in 2021!

VIRTUAL DISTRICT 5970 DUCK RACE IS ON!

The annual District 5970 duck race will be live on Facebook, April 25^th at 10:00 am live from the home of District Governor Michelle Bell.

What Rotary Clubs are doing around the World

As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads uncertainty and hardship around the world, Rotary members and participants are innovating, caring for those affected, and showing that even at a distance, there are ways to help.

Fighting disease is one of Rotary’s main causes, so members already support efforts to promote proper hand washing techniques, teach people other ways to stay healthy, and supply training and vital medical equipment to health care providers. Now they’re helping health authorities communicate lifesaving information about COVID-19 and donating protective gear and other supplies to clinics and hospitals that are under strain because of the pandemic.

These are just some of the ways that members are supporting their communities right now:

In Italy, one of the countries that has been affected most, clubs in District 2080 are raising funds to purchase ventilators and protective gear for overstretched hospitals. And when the worst of the outbreak was raging in China, the district’s clubs raised more than $21,000 for protective masks to prevent spread of the disease there.
Clubs in District 2041, also in Italy, raised funds online to buy protective gear for health workers who will care for COVID-19 patients at a 400-bed hospital being built at Milan’s fairgrounds.

April 13 Program: Northeast Iowa Food Bank

No community is exempt from struggling with hunger. Since federal nutrition programs don’t reach everyone in need, food banks like ours help fill the gap for thousands of people each year. Learn more about hunger in your community by exploring an interactive County Hunger Summary map and download a County Hunger Summary here.

Fellow Rotarian and one of the busiest people in the Cedar Valley Barb Prather, Executive Director of Northeast Iowa Food Bank - joined us for a Zoom meeting. She shared the latest from the Food Bank and how her staff has risen to the challenge of providing meals to hundreds of new families that have never experienced food insecurity.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank hosted a live conversation with Barb and members of her staff earlier this month. They discussed access to food in today's climate, how they are preparing for the months to come, and how community support helps protect the most vulnerable communities during these trying times.

Volunteers are STILL NEEDED - click here to offer your help!