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Project will benefit new mothers in Nicaragua

            Members of the Rotary Club of Mason City have made a big donation to the Nicaragua project, filling 50 layettes. Margo Underwood from the club will travel to Nicaragua with the team December 1 to deliver them to the shelter which helps up to 1,000 women each year.

            The club posted a video on its web site explaining the project and asking for donations. To see it, go to http://masoncitynoonrotary.org/Rotary_Layettes_For_Nicaragua.php.

            Kim is a manager at W. W. Grainger and Cathy is the new Black Hawk County Engineer; both are graduates of Iowa State. They both noted in their introductions that it was the club's service projects that played a major role in their decisions.

            Kim was proposed by Gene Leonhart and Cathy by Steve Schmitt. Please make an effort to meet and welcome them to the group.

            That brings to four the number of new members since July 1 with two resignations. Membership Chair Tom Arthur told the club Monday that the four are only ten percent of the annual goal of 40 new members. At least two more are in the pipeline.

            Earlier Club Treasurer Todd Rohlfsen explained the connection between club size and a balanced budget.

UN Data shows no new cases in endemic countries since September 15

Nigeriahas reported no new cases of polio since August 30 according to case count data compiled by the World Health Organization of the UN. The data are current as of October 7.

            That's a really big deal since Nigeria has reported more polio cases than any country in the world for the last few years- - 798 last year and 382 so far in 2009. But none for 45r days.

            Speaking to Rotary leaders at a meeting in Minneapolis Friday, Lou Piconi, a trustee of the Rotary Foundation, announced the latest update of $97.7 million. When the challenge to match a $100 million grant from the Gates Foundation was made in February, 2008, Rotary was given three years to match it- -by December, 2010.

            Then in February, 2009 Gates appeared at a Rotary training session in California and issued a second challenge of $255 million with a Rotary match of $100 million, also with a three-year limit.

This is the second story of "Women in Rotary" in a series of 6 stories.  We have 43 active women in our club and would certainly like to have more. Please share Uyntha's story with others.

  Volunteer of the Year, Adult Citizen of Character, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, Embrace Life Honoree, Campaign Chair are a few of her titles.  Wheaton Franciscan, American Red Cross, Visiting Nurses Association, Habitat for Humanity, Cedar Falls Historical Association, Cedar Valley Hospice and Family Children's Council, and Rotary are a few organizations that her name is affiliated with.

   If you want to see an impressive resume of an individual that truly lives the Rotarian mission of "Service Above Self" look no farther than our own Uyntha Duncan. "Why do you choose to be a Rotarian?" I asked during my interview. "Rotary has a mission that is very closely aligned with my personal mission", replied Uyntha. "Being involved with so many organizations I see that first hand."

   Bonnie Humble had approached Uyntha with the idea that Rotary would be a good way for her to get involved in service projects and get to know people with some of her same interests.  She became a member of the Waterloo Rotary Downtown club in 2002.

    With Rotary she has been involved on many different committees. She helps with the shoebox each year and took the trip to Nicaragua along with other Rotarians and volunteers to deliver shoeboxes, durable medical equipment, bicycles, sewing machines, and garden tools in 2004.This is a major undertaking that could not be possible without the selfless volunteers.

     What is your Wish for the club? "Diversity, it would be nice to have a wider range of individuals involved with our club. Different ages, genders, backgrounds, and nationalities," she said.  

     Uyntha was a health coordinator for Head Start, Iowa Migrant Head Start, and CDI after working for public health and holding various nursing positions from pediatrics to surgical medicine. She and late husband Don have a daughter (in Omaha) and 2 sons (in Cedar Falls), 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. Thank you for continuing your support of Rotary and all that you do in your selfless acts of kindness and volunteer work. You are definitely a person that does MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Mayor Tim Hurley will not seek another term as mayor, so three citizens have thrown their hats in the ring.  Reggie Schmitt, Buck Clark, and Steve Schmitt will join us to answer your questions about their ideas for the direction of our fair city.  If you have an issue or question to bring before the candiates, please email Kevin McCrindle before Friday, October 23rd.  You may also call Kevin at his office, 234-0535.